HC Deb 11 March 1965 vol 708 c136W
64. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for making help available, in personnel and scientific aids, to the teacher in the classroom, to help overcome the continuing teacher shortage.

Mr. Prentice

Local education authorities are increasingly employing non-teaching staff in their schools, as they are free to do on their own initiative, to relieve teachers of routine tasks and so enable them to concentrate more effectively on their teaching duties. My right hon. Friend intends to encourage developments in this direction.

Teachers are already aware of the value of audio-visual aids in the classroom and I am confident that an increasing use will be made of them. In general, however, these do not help in overcoming the teacher shortage.