§ Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will offer further advice to the London boroughs that, in their efforts to conform with the Government's request to economise, they will avoid staff redundancies throughout the schools system and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonLocal education authorities, including the ILEA and the outer London boroughs, were advised in the Joint Circular of 31st December 1975 (DES Circular 15/76) that the rate support grant settlement for 1976–77 provided for the employment of sufficient teachers to maintain in that year the staffing standards achieved in 1975–76. In areas where the total school population is falling, the maintenance of existing staffing standards could result in some reduction in the total teaching force. I understand that where local education authorities are planning such a reduction they expect to achieve it through natural wastage and, where necessary, redeployment of teachers, in order to avoid redundancies. This is in accordance with the advice given in that circular in relation to local authority manpower generally.