§ Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on teachers' salaries, in view of the fact that the Teachers Salaries (Scotland) Provisional Regulations, which give authority for the payment of salaries 522W to teachers, will expire on 31st March, 1966.
§ Mr. RossI propose to replace the current regulations by Provisional Regulations giving interim effect from 1st April to the scales and allowances proposed in the draft Regulations which I issued for comment on 31st January, 1966.
I am taking this action to ensure that teachers receive the benefit of increased salaries at the earliest possible moment, for I understand that if new rates were not authorised until after the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes became available, some education authorities might be unable to pay teachers at these rates before the summer holiday period begins.
I should make it clear that these Provisional Regulations and the 13 per cent. increases which they provide are entirely without prejudice to the outcome of the reference made to the National Board. Nor do they take account of representations lodged on the draft Regulations: these will be fully considered before final Regulations are made with retrospective effect to 1st April.