§ 16. Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has regarding the future of student teachers on Merseyside; whether he has had discussions about the problem of unemployment amongst young teachers on Merseyside with Merseyside local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerTeachers are trained on a national, not a regional, basis, and the problem of providing employment for newly trained teachers from the Merseyside training institutions is not, therefore, solely one for the Merseyside local authorities. My right hon. Friend has not had discussions on teacher unemployment with the Merseyside local authorities but has urged local education authorities generally to give priority to the newly qualified when making teaching appointments.
§ 18. Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the effect of the cuts in expenditure on teacher employment in Gloucestershire.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe Gloucestershire education authority intends to employ 69 fewer teachers in January 1977 than the number it would need to maintain pupil-teacher ratios at the levels achieved in January 1976.
461W
§ 21. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an order to enable graduate teachers in independent recognised schools, with more than two years' experience, who then study by correspondence for the Postgraduate Certificate of Education, to teach in the State sector without having to repeat the postgraduate course full-time.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerNo.
§ 35. Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he received from students at teacher training colleges in the course of their lobby of Parliament on 15th June 1976, on the subject of teacher unemployment.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend met representatives from the South Yorkshire Area Student Council and discussed the question of teacher unemployment with them.
§ 36. Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the shortfall of teaching jobs available for teachers leaving colleges of education in 1976.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend earlier today to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Goole (Dr. Marshall) and Enfield, North (Mr. Davies) and the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud).
§ 44. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about teacher unemployment.
§ 45. Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he now has any proposals to improve the employment position of graduates leaving colleges of education this year.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take any steps to deal with the present level of teacher unemployment.
§ Mr. MulleyI would refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for462W Goole (Dr. Marshall) and Enfield, North (Mr. Davies) and the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud).
§ 58. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers he expects to be unemployed in the forthcoming academic year; and how this compares with the number unemployed at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Mulley3,533 unemployed school teachers were recorded at employment offices in England and Wales in March. The level of teacher unemployment will rise in the 1976–77 academic year, but I cannot yet make a reliable forecast because of uncertainty about trends in wastage from and re-entry to the profession.
§ 60. Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider a proposal to offer newly qualified teachers part-time employment at two-thirds of the salary on the lines of a scheme being introduced by Western Germany.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonLocal education authorities are already free to offer newly qualified teachers part-time teaching employment on proportionate salary, if they see any advantage in doing so.