Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartI refer to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West on 13 February at columns337–38. At the request of the teachers' side my right hon. Friend met representatives of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff in School Education on 15 February. He has since had another exchange of letters with the Joint Secretary (Teachers' Side) in order to clarify still further his position on a possible review of pay and conditions of service within the SJNC(SE) framework. My right hon. Friend and I very much hope that an early decision will now be reached by the teachers' side enabling such a review to begin.