§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about teachers' pay.
§ Mr. PrenticeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are setting up an independent review to examine the pay structure and levels of remuneration of non-university teachers in Great Britain. The review will cover the pay of teachers in primary, secondary and special schools, in establishments of further education and in colleges of education. It will also cover farm institutes in England and Wales and central institutions in Scotland. My right hon. Friend and I will nominate the chairman and members as soon as possible. The membership will be so constituted that the examination of the pay of English and Welsh teachers on the one hand and Scottish teachers on the other can be carried on simultaneously.
The Government are well aware of the depth of feeling among teachers that the 288W relative position of their pay in recent years has suffered a particularly serious decline. Teachers and others in the education service are concerned that there should be adequate incentives to make the teaching profession attractive. Many are also concerned that the pay structure should recognise the need to give more adequate rewards to career teachers. Teachers have not fared well, and we consider it right that they should have their case independently assessed now.
The recommendations of the review body will be referred to the appropriate negotiating machinery in England, Wales and Scotland, which will be free to decide to backdate any resulting increases in pay to the date of this announcement.