HC Deb 03 February 1971 vol 810 cc369-70W
Mr. Oswald

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the extent of the shortage of school teachers in the City of Edinburgh, primary and secondary, respectively, and the numbers of male and female teachers required in each school category.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I am asking the education authority to send this information to the hon. Member.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the teacher shortage in secondary schools in 1973.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Revised forecasts of the child population indicate that with a pupil/teacher ratio of 14.5 to one, the basis of the estimate of 3,100 made in 1969, the shortage in 1973 would be 3,700. However, my Department is engaged on studies designed to produce a more reliable measure of staffing needs and I would prefer to await the outcome before making a new estimate.