§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will provide additional funds to secure an increase in in-service training for teachers.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. Friend announced on 8 November 1982 in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Colvin)—[Official Report, Vol. 31, c. 39–40]—that the Department of Education and Science will be inviting bids from local education authorities for grants to support expenditure up to a total cost of £4½ million in the coming financial year for selected priorities within in-service training. This will allow up to 3,000 teachers to be released for a period of in-service training in a full academic year. The rate support grant settlement for 1983–84 should in itself allow local education authorities, provided costs are contained, at least to maintain current levels of expenditure on in-service training.