§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Educational Institute of Scotland asking him to set up a public inquiry into education in Lanarkshire with particular reference to the employment of persons disapproved by the official reference panel; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. RossI have as yet received no representations from the Institute. On 18th April, however, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State met representatives of Lanarkshire Education Authority and discussed with them a range of matters affecting education in this county, particularly the operation of the reference panel arrangements. As a result I have received assurances from the Authority that appointments of unregistered teachers will be referred timeously to the panel and that action will then be taken promptly to implement the panel's decision where the appointment is disapproved. The Authority has also undertaken to seek the agreement of the district inspector if it wishes to supplement the teaching staff of a school by making a non-teaching appointment or to retain in a non-teaching capacity a person whose appointment has been disapproved. I consider these assurances to be satisfactory and I am confident that the Authority will ensure that they are implemented.