§ Sir M. Galpernasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take consequent upon Lord Johnston's judgment declaring the National Joint Council on Teachers' Salaries to be an unconstitutional body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleI withdrew the approval which I had given on 23rd January, 1963, to the National Joint Council as then constituted. At the same time I invited the Association of County Councils in Scotland and the Scottish Counties of Cities Association, which between them represent all Scottish education authorities, to explore in the first instance the possibility of agreement between themselves and the three associations generally representative of teachers on the constitution of a new council. They subsequently reported to me that their efforts had failed and that they saw no prospect of any such agreement. In these circumstances it falls to me, in terms of Section 83(4) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962, to constitute a council at my own hand. Discussions on this are proceeding and I expect to be able to make a statement shortly.