§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many administrative and clerical civil servants were employed by his Department in January 1970 and January 1975; and what was the average monthly salary or wage per head and the percentage increase for each figure.
§ Mr. Prentice:The figures are as follows:
§ Mr. Prentice:I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 13th February—[Vol. 886, cols. 205–6]. The voluntary providing bodies have accepted in principle that their colleges should bear a reduction in teacher training numbers proportionate to that required in the country as a whole.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussion his Department has had with staff and college authorities, and from which colleges, concerning the future of their colleges.
§ Mr. Prentice:It is for local education authorities to consult maintained colleges in their areas. My Department has had innumerable discussions with national and local representatives of all the voluntary colleges of education and of their providing bodies.
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§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he is aware that copies of the Crombie Code proposals have not yet reached the staff of colleges where a definite decision has been made to close the college; and if he will now ensure that at least tentative proposals of what may be included in the Crombie Code are sent to all teacher training colleges;
(2) whether he will bring forward the date of the publication of the Crombie Code.
§ Mr. Prentice:The Department wrote in January to all chief education officers, colleges of education and polytechnics with departments of education describing the various steps being taken to protect the interests of college of education staff. The letter summarised the Crombie terms of compensation which will be applied by new regulations to college of education staff affected directly by the reorganisation of higher education. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. The regulations will be circulated in draft to the relevant national bodies next month and I expect to lay them before Parliament in June. Summaries of the Crombie terms have also been circulated to their members in the colleges by the Association of Teachers in Colleges and Departments of Education and the National Union of Teachers.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make provision for the retraining of redundant training college staff in teaching or other professions.
§ Mr. Prentice:Arrangements agreed in consultation with the local authorities' associations enable college of education staff to be seconded on salary to attend courses which will equip them for new duties in the education service. I have no power to assist those wishing to retrain for other professions, but training allowances are available for this purpose under the Training Opportunities Scheme administered by the Training Services Agency.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will prohibit the general advertising of vacancies in teacher training until those members of staff declared redundant have obtained suitable posts.
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§ Mr. Prentice:No. On the initiative of the Association of Teachers in Colleges and Departments of Education a staff redeployment bureau has been set up to assist and advise college of education staff seeking other employment. The greater part of its cost will be met by a grant from the Department.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will encourage early retirement of training college staff in order to reduce the number of redundancies in training colleges.
§ Mr. Prentice:Benefits under the teachers' superannuation scheme are not payable before age 60. The Department will, however, be making regulations under which redundant college of education teachers could receive up to normal retirement age compensation not exceeding two-thirds of their existing salary. In considering which teachers should be declared redundant, college authorities will, no doubt, take into account the ages and the personal preferences of individual teachers.