§ 49. Mr. Alan Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he supports the establishment of a General Teaching Council.
§ Sir Keith JosephI am aware that there is support among teachers for legislation to establish a teaching council which would enable the profession to become more self-regulating, but so far the profession itself has been divided on substantial issues concerning the functions and composition of such a body. Before I could consider supporting the establishment of a council, I would need to receive proposals from the interested parties which commanded wide agreement, and which were designed to protect the interests of the consumer as much as those of the producer.