HC Deb 19 May 1972 vol 837 cc217-8W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of qualified teachers available for employment as teachers; how this compares with the number in employment by local education authorities and elsewhere; and what is her estimate of the current surplus now, and the likely surplus at the end of 1972 and at the end of 1973;

(2) if she will list the number of teachers who have qualified, but are surplus to requirement, and therefore not in employment, in each regional area, and in total, indicating how the figures for Sheffield and South Yorkshire compare with the rest of the country.

Mr. van Straubenzee

In January, 1972, there were 383,724 qualified teachers in maintained schools in England and Wales, some 20,600 more than a year earlier. There are no reliable national or regional figures of qualified teachers out of service. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that there is any substantial unemployment among qualified teachers seriously seeking posts and ready to go where the jobs are.