§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement about teachers' salaries.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he has had with the teaching profession regarding increases in salaries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ross:As hon. Members will be aware the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee reached agreement on 17th April. The settlement, which is subject to acceptance by the bodies represented on the Teachers' Side of the Committee, 105W will take effect from 1st April and will cost about £11 million or an increase of 15.7 per cent. in the current salaries bill of £71 million. A restructuring of the basic salary scales is a feature of the settlement, and the increases for individual teachers will range from 10 to 35 per cent.
Hon. Members will be glad, as I am, that these negotiations have been successfully concluded.