§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to intervene to settle the teachers' pay grievances and ensure payment of at least 10 per cent.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsPay settlements are negotiated by the Burnham Committees and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene.
For the primary and secondary school teachers, the management panel's offer is such that the average income of the teachers would be almost 10 per cent. higher in 1978–79 than in 1977–78, and is in accordance with the Government's pay guidelines.
I deeply regret the sanctions being imposed on the children in some schools, given that there is agreement to submit the teachers' claim to arbitration.
I hope that the teachers concerned will reconsider their action.