HC Deb 13 February 1976 vol 905 cc460-4W
Mr. Rossi

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers from other member countries of the EEC were in the United Kingdom on exchange arrangements; and how many United Kingdom teachers were in other member countries under such arrangements for each of the academic years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

Mr. Mulley

The following table gives the number of teachers exchanged between EEC countries and the United Kingdom for the academic years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75, and of interchange appointments:

1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
Teachers Teachers Teachers
United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom
EEC In Out Total Terms EEC In Out Total Terms EEC In Out Total Terms
France
Exchange … 76 76 118 75 75 105 51 51 99
Interchange … 9 — 27 16 — 48 6 — 18
Total … 85 76 145 91 75 153 57 51 117
Short study visits … — — — 43 57 weeks — 62 91 weeks
Total teachers … 85 76 91 118 57 113
Germany
Exchange … 28 28 38 21 21 27 4 4 6
Interchange … 2 15 51 7 22 87 5 11 48
Total … 30 43 89 28 43 114 9 15 54
Short study visits … — — — 32 57 weeks — 46 99 weeks
Total teachers … 30 43 28 75 9 61
Denmark
Interchange … — 12 36 — 12 36 — 12 36

Notes:

1. An exchange teacher takes up the post of the teacher from the other country with whom he is paired. The exchange lasts one or three terms.

2. An interchange teacher takes up a post in the other country, without pairing, for the full three terms of the school year.

Mr. Rossi

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist between the United Kingdom and other member countries of the EEC for teacher exchange; if these arrangements vary with different member countries and, if so, in what way; and it any of these arrangements make provision for United Kingdom teachers, other than language teachers to acquire minimum linguistic skills in this country so that they may offer themselves for exchange.

Mr. Mulley

Of the members of the EEC, the United Kingdom has teacher exchange and interchange schemes with France and Germany and an interchange scheme with Denmark. The aim of these schemes is to enable existing teachers of modern languages to improve their knowledge of the language and the country concerned. United Kingdom exchange teachers retain their British salaries and also receive grants from central government funds to help with the additional cost of living outside the United Kingdom and with travel. Under the interchange schemes, British teachers are enabled to spend one year abroad, teaching English. They are paid by the authorities abroad and receive no grants from British central Government funds. No general arrangements are made under the exchange schemes for teachers of other subjects to acquire minimum linguistic skills but intensive language courses in French are available to British teachers wishing to teach that language in this country.