HC Deb 11 July 1985 vol 82 cc483-5W
Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to pursue the possibility of establishing acceptable arrangements for collecting and using ethnically based statistics on teachers and students in initial training.

Sir Keith Joseph

Following up our interest in increasing the supply of suitable teachers of ethnic minority origin, and an undertaking made in response to the Swann report, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today issued a discussion paper concerning the collection of ethically based statistics on teachers and students in teacher training. It is proposed that a working group of the local authority associations,

assuming payment of the award currently offered by teachers' employers, in each case both allowing for and not allowing for incremental rises.

Sir Keith Joseph

[pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1985, c. 352]: Details of percentage increases in teachers' salaries in cash and real terms for the periods requested are as follows:

the Churches, the teachers' associations, and the Commission for Racial Equality should be established to look at the issues in more detail, concentrating initially on statistics on serving teachers. Comments from a wider audience will be welcome and will be made known to the working group. Copies of the discussion paper are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Sackville

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations have taken place with the education service and the ethnic minorities on ways of increasing the supply of ethnic minority teachers.

Sir Keith Joseph

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today followed up an undertaking made in response to the Swann report, and have issued a discussion paper concerning measures to increase the proportion of the teacher force drawn from the ethnic minorities, without any reduction in the required level of qualification. Copies of the document are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Ethnic minority groups, and interested parties both within and outside the education service, are being asked to submit comments by 31 October, and comments will be welcome on the same timescale from any individual or organisation not specifically consulted. Further discussions may then be required to determine the most appropriate way forward.