§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans for increasing the supply of teachers in the following subjects: (a) mathematics (b) science and (c) technical, in the Strathclyde region.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherMathematics, physics, chemistry and technical education are among the subjects to which I asked the colleges of education to give highest priority in selecting students for the current session, and I understand that the numbers admitted for training show an improvement over those for recent years. In addition, I have written personally to a range of major private firms and other interests inviting them to draw the attention of appropriately qualified staff who might be contemplating early retirement to the possibility of training as teachers of shortage subjects. I hope shortly to seek the views of interested bodies on further possible measures which might be taken.