§ Mr. Alexander Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Lanarkshire County Council about the teachers' strike; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RossLanarkshire County Council wrote to me on 7th November supporting a motion adopted the previous day by the education committee which referred to the fact that teachers' salaries had fallen behind and called upon me to take all necessary steps to implement an immediate interim increase in teachers' salaries.
It was because of the Government's recognition that teachers' salaries had fallen behind that they announced on 24th May their decision to appoint an independent review of teachers' pay and indicated that any resulting increases would be backdated to that day. As my hon. Friend will be aware from my statement in the House on 2nd December, the teachers' side of the Scottish Teachers' Salaries Committee on 29th November rejected the £100 lump sum payment on account recommended by the Houghton Committee.