§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the additional funds that he is making available to improve teachers' pay over the next four years will be made up; how much will be made available each year; what steps he has taken to seek to ensure that the teaching unions understand what is being offered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Keith JosephI announced last August that additional provision would be made for teachers' pay in England and Wales if a satisfactory agreement could be reached on the salary structure and the definition of teachers' duties. The additional provision would be for up to £200 million in 1986–87, rising in broadly equal steps to a maximum of £450 million in 1989–90. £40 million a year out of this sum is now being devoted to new arrangements for midday supervision. I have no doubt that the leaders of the teaching unions understand the Government's conditional offer. As for their members, I do not employ them but my colleagues and I have on numerous occasions sought to publicise the Government's position.
§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were teachers' salaries in real terms in (a) 1981 and (b) 1986; and if he will give current comparable figures.
§ Sir Keith JosephFigures for the average salary of teachers are available only up to 1984. To provide an illustrative comparison for the years in question, I set out below the movement in the salary paid to primary and secondary teachers in England and Wales at the top of scale 1 (excluding those entitled to be paid on an extended scale as good honours graduates). In April 1981 such teachers were paid £7,317 a year which, increased by the rise in the retail price index up to April 1985, equates to some £9,361. Upon full implementation of the 1985 pay settlement at 31 March 1986 such teachers will receive £9,285 a year. There has as yet been no pay settlement for 1986.