§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the Houghton Committee's recommendations about the negotiating machinery for teachers' salaries and conditions of service in Scotland; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MillanMy Department has written today to the appropriate employer and staff interests suggesting a number of important changes in the negotiating machinery to take account of the recommendations made by the Houghton Committee. I am proposing that the five bodies which deal with the salaries and conditions of service of teachers employed by education authorities and academic staff in central institutions and colleges of education should be replaced by two negotiating committees—one for the pay and conditions of service of teachers in schools and another for the pay and conditions of service of academic staff in further education colleges, central institutions and colleges of education.
I am arranging for a copy of the Scottish Education Department's letter to be placed in the Library.
Parts of the present negotiating machinery derive from statute, and any changes will therefore require legislation. I shall consider the form which new legislation might take after I have received and considered the views of the bodies now being consulted.