§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why he has not yet replied to the question of the hon. Member for Ealing, North due for answer on 19 January, No. 213; and when he proposes to answer;
(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, North on 14 December 1980, if he will take steps to compile an estimate of the number of religious education specialists required each year to compensate for natural wastage brought about by retirement or by transfer to another subject.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. The compilation of such an estimate would involve the collection and analysis of special data, with manpower implications, for both the Department and local authorities, which could not be justified in present circumstances. The number of unfilled vacancies for religious education specialists in January 1980 was 96.