§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Church leaders on the teachers' pay dispute; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy right hon. Friend met representatives of the Churches on 29 November. He was interested to hear the Churches' views on the dispute and undertook to consider carefully any further initiatives which might help to bring an end to it. He still firmly believes, however, that pay cannot be considered in isolation from the duties for which teachers are paid and that the best way of moving forward is for negotiations to begin between teachers and their employers on both salaries and conditions of service.