§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students qualified as schoolteachers in Welsh colleges in 1974 and 1975, respectively: how many appoint- 464W ments were made to schools in Wales in those years; how many such students he estimates will qualify as teachers in 1976; and how many jobs there will be for them.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerIn 1974 and 1975 it is estimated that 2,600 and 2,500 students respectively successfuly completed courses of initial training in Wales. The Department's figures do not separately distinguish appointments to Welsh and to English schools. I expect that an estimated 2,300 will successfully complete courses of initial training in Wales this summer. A high proportion of these who seek employment in teaching are likely to find it; but uncertainty about trends in wastage rates from and to the profession makes it impossible to give a reliable estimate of their number.