§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the Gateshead council are demanding that teachers employed by them shall belong to trade unions as a condition of engagement; that 500 teachers have rejected this demand; whether the action taken by the council is authorised by her; and if she will give directions in this matter.
§ Miss WilkinsonThe answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative and the answer to the third part is in the negative. As regards the fourth part, it is the policy of the Government to leave the question of conditions of employment to be settled between the parties concerned, and there does not at present seem to be any occasion for my intervention.