§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Education how many teachers are needed by the Birmingham Local Education Authority to make up their quota; and what action she proposes to remedy this shortage.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe quota applies neither to men teachers nor to certain categories of women teachers. In the categories of woman teacher affected by the quota the Birmingham Authority, according to my information, were employing 3,038 on 1st February, 1953, compared with a quota for the current year of 3,500. The deficiency can be made up only by increasing the overall supply of women teachers and by ensuring that the available supply is fairly distributed. To both these tasks I am continuing to apply myself.