HC Deb 11 March 1982 vol 19 c482W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals to retrain secondary school teachers for primary work over the next three years.

Dr. Boyson

No.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the estimated demand for primary school teachers in 1985 and 1990; and how many teachers he estimates will be trained in this area at those times;

(2) what is the estimated demand for secondary school teachers in 1985 and 1990; and how many teachers he estimates will be trained in this area at those times.

Dr. Boyson

Forecasts of teacher vacancies over this time scale are inexact. Averages over a span of years may be more reliable than the figures for a single year. On the basis that future births will follow the Government Actuary's principal projection and that the pupil-teacher ratios implicit in the Government's expenditure plans will be broadly maintained, the Department's latest projection of average annual vacancies over the period 1985–90 is primary, 14,000, and secondary, 6,000. The Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers is considering what proportions of these might be taken by new entrants to teaching and the implications for intakes to teacher training.

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost to each teacher in a maintained school in terms of (a) a day's pay and (b) reduced pension of (i) a day's strike, (ii) five working day's strike and (iii) refusal, per day, to undertake normal lunchtime and extra curricular duties.

Dr. Boyson

It is for individual employing authorities to decide what action to take in relation to pay for teachers in these circumstances. The superannuation effects are directly related to whether pay is withheld. Periods in respect of which salary is not paid are not pensionable.