HC Deb 11 June 1984 vol 61 cc367-8W
Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the financing of in-service training of teachers.

Mr. Younger

Under the Education (Grants for Further Training of Teachers) (Scotland) Regulations 1984, which came into operation on 23 April 1984, I am now empowered to pay directly to education authorities, and to managers of grant-aided special schools, grants to support the secondment of teachers undertaking appropriate supplementary professional training for work in special education.

I have today laid before Parliament further regulations—the Education (Grants for In-Service Training of Teachers) (Scotland) Regulations 1984 —which will empower me to pay grants to education authorities in respect of teachers undertaking certain other types of in-service training. These include a range of short national courses sponsored by the National Committee for the In-Service Training of Teachers, courses in management for promoted teachers and courses in the use of microcomputers.

These measures have been specifically designed to encourage in-service training in relevant priority areas. I hope that they will make a significant contribution towards improvement of the quality of the teaching profession.