§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has information as to how many teachers in England and Wales have individually requested official contracts of employment; how many have been refused such contracts; how many teachers have disputed the contracts which they were granted after being appointed; and what procedures exist for the settling of such individual disputes relating to contracts of employment.
§ Dr. BoysonMatters relating to contracts of employment are for determination between teachers and their employers. My Department is not involved in individual cases and does not collect information about the numbers of teachers requesting, refusing or disputing contracts of employment. Disputes about teachers' contracts may be settled either by use of such grievance procedures as may be provided in the contract or otherwise agreed locally, or by action in the civil courts.