HC Deb 04 March 1980 vol 980 c163W
30. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what surveys have been made to establish which local authorities in England and Wales have special difficulties in recruiting teachers of mathematics.

Dr. Boyson

Surveys of local authorities were carried out in January 1979, which revealed a total of 463 unfilled vacancies for mathematics teachers, and in January 1980, the results of which are not yet available. This is a national problem, but it is known that it is more serious and persistent in some authorities and the pattern should be revealed by these surveys.