§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give, or estimate, either the number of peripatetic specialist teachers of music in England or the full-time equivalent number in each of the years 1983 and 1984; what changes he expects in 1985; and which are the education authorities where such provision is likely to be reduced by more than 10 per cent. between 1983 and 1985.
§ Mr. DunnInformation is not available in the precise form requested. However, a small inquiry into the provision of instrumental music in maintained primary and secondary schools in England was carried out by Her Majesty's inspectors in 1984. At that time there were the full-time equivalent of 3,244 instrumental music teachers, compared with 3,282 in 1980–81. Taking account of the change in pupil numbers, pupil-teacher ratios for instrumental music tuition had improved by some 5 per cent. over the same period. A large majority of local education authorities anticipated being able to maintain the present level of their instrumental tuition.
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