§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now concluded his consultations about the review of the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossYes, and I should like first of all to acknowledge the help I have had from all the interested parties who furnished me with their views and took part in the consultations. I have decided as follows. First, to increase the membership of the Council from 44 to 49, by an addition of 5 teacher places: 26 teachers will now be elected by the profession at large, 11 from secondary, 11 from primary, 3 from further education and one from the colleges of education.130W Second, to abolish the electoral distinction between headteachers and others. Third, to introduce a requirement that if a teacher ceases to serve in the category for which he was elected he must resign his place. I shall shortly be making orders to give effect to these decisions. I do not propose to invite Parliament to make any changes in the functions of the Council or in the relationship between the Council and the Secretary of State that is established by the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act, 1965. At the first practicable opportunity I shall however introduce an amending Bill to require education authorities and other managers to deduct the annual fee for renewal of registration from the salaries of teachers holding posts where registration with the Council is a condition of employment.