§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the number of unfilled posts in science subjects notified to him by local authorities in January 1986.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn January 1986 local authorities in England reported 407 unfilled posts in science.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the shortage of science, technical and mathematics teachers, he will state the means he intends to adopt to ensure that the planned city technical colleges are able to recruit teachers in these subjects.
§ Mrs. RumboldI am confident that city technology colleges will be able to attract staff, who will welcome the opportunity to teach pupils of varying abilities and backgrounds in a disciplined school community working to clear objectives. I recognise that the establishment of city technology colleges will increase the demand for teachers in shortage subjects, though I expect also that they may draw back into the profession some who have left it and stimulate new recruitment. A range of measures to reduce current teacher shortages is in hand and the situation will be kept under review.