§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools inspectors there are currently in her Department; and how many will be retired as a result of the decision not to inspect private schools after 1978.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThere were 404½ full-time equivalent Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools at 21st November 1977. Numbers will not be reduced when 179W recognition as efficient is discontinued as Her Majesty's Inspectorate's time made available will be deployed among the Inspectorate's other tasks. Her Majesty's Inspectors will continue to inspect independent schools which will remain subject to the registration provisions of the Education Act 1944.