§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how it is proposed to deal with the shortage of teachers in junior schools in Heywood.
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§ Mr. CroslandThese schools, in common with primary schools in many other areas, are experiencing staffing difficulties because of their rapidly rising pupil numbers, but their staffing standards are up to the national average and slightly better than the average for Lancashire as a whole. The responsibility for their staffing rests with the Lancashire local education authority. The Government's part is to increase the size of the national teacher force through the expansion of the universities and colleges of education, and to ensure through the quota system that Lancashire receives its fair share. The authority are also taking energetic steps to draw upon their own local resources by persuading married women teachers to return to the schools.