§ 44. Mr. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect, if any, the strike of 14 May had on pupils taking public examinations; and what arrangements had been made to assist any pupils adversely affected.
§ Dr. Boyson: No significant difficulties have been reported to the Department. The responsibility for deciding upon appropriate action lay with the individual examining boards. Some examinations were rescheduled, but the majority took place as planned. Any case of genuine hardship will be sympathetically considered by the boards.
§ 49. Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the effect on schools of the strike on 14 May.
§ 50. Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of teachers who withdrew their labour, and of how many continued to work on 14 May.
§ Dr. Boyson: A sample survey on 14 May of 35 local education authorities in England showed that the majority of schools in these areas were operating normally. Some 180 schools (of which 165 were in the area of one local education authority) were closed wholly or for part of the day. It follows that most teachers were working, but no details are available in my Department.