§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assumptions she made about the maximum class sizes which could be achieved in the 1980s when she came to her provisional view that a further contraction of teacher training to about 45,000 places will be necessary.
§ Mr. OakesMy right hon. Friend's view took account of teacher demand in the 1980s in terms of pupil-teacher ratios, not of class size. The contraction to 45,000 places outside the universities is calculated to be sufficient to allow an improvement on present ratios in the 465W 1980s. I will send the hon. Member a copy of a paper which is to be prepared for the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers indicating the implications for teacher supply and for staffing standards of a teacher training plant of 45,000 places outside the universities.
§ Mr. Miscampbellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the future of teacher training colleges in the North-West.
§ Mr. OakesI would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 9th November—[Vol. 919, c.133–4.] My right hon. Friend considers that it would be premature to make any more detailed statement until she has considered the result of the meeting of the advisory committee arranged for later this month.