§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what are the membership figures for the teaching unions in England and Wales for the purpose of settling representations on the Burnham committee for the most recent year for which data are available;
(2) how are the membership figures for the separate unions compiled for the purpose of allocating seats on the Burnham committee from teacher associations; and whether he is satisfied with the accuracy of the figures provided.
§ Dr. BoysonRelevant membership is not the only criterion taken into account by the Secretary of State when determining representation of teachers' associations in the Burnham committees, although it is important.
For the purpose of the revision of membership announced on 20 January 1981—[Vol. 996, c. 131]—by my right hon. and learned Friend in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee), the teachers' associations were asked to submit membership figures for 31 December 1979, the 103W latest date for which figures were available on a common basis, showing the number of fully paid up members employed as teachers in primary, secondary or special schools maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales or otherwise employed as teachers by such authorities in providing primary or secondary education. Associations were invited to include both qualified and unqualified teachers, whether working in particular establishment or unattached, whether working full time or part-time; new members were to be included even if they were paying a concessionary rate of subscription. The relevant figures submitted by the associations in accordance with that specification were:
Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association 61,501 National Association of Head Teachers 20,044 National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers 111,865 National Union of Teachers 250,493 Professional Association of Teachers 16,610 Secondary Heads Association 2,404 The retention of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in membership of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee does not rest on numerical considerations.
My right hon. and learned Friend has no reason to doubt the general accuracy of the figures submitted by the teachers' associations.