HC Deb 17 July 1985 vol 83 cc183-4W
16. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make an up-to-date statement on the latest position relating to the pay and conditions of service of teachers in Scotland.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Following the Secretary of State's meeting with the education committee of COSLA last month at which there was broad agreement on a teacher's job description, technical discussions are proceeding within the management side of the Scottish joint negotiating committee for teaching staff in school education about the outline of a possible package on pay and conditions of service. Adjusting the existing expenditure plans for the current financial year is no longer a practical proposition. However, the Government would be willing to provide some additional resources for teachers' pay in the rate support grant settlement for 1986–87, provided that agreement can be achieved on an acceptable package. I very much hope that progress can be made towards that objective.

17. Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average salary of an un-promoted secondary school teacher in Scotland in (a) June 1980 and (b) today, expressed (i) as a real figure and (ii) in relation to the retail price index.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Information about the average salaries of un-promoted secondary school teachers is not separately available from the Scottish joint negotiating committee for teaching staff in school education. However, the SJNC carries out a salaries survey in October of each year and, based on this information, the average annual salary of a secondary school teacher was £8,037 in 1980 and £10,296 in 1984. Based on movements in the retail price index between October 1980 and October 1984, the 1980 salary is equivalent to an indexed salary of £10,577 at October 1984.