§ Mr. Nichollsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the latest position regarding negotiations with the teaching unions and the teachers' employers.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe local authority employers and teacher unions met on 7 January in the Burnham and CLEA/ST committees. I understand that a majority on each side, but with significant dissenting voices, expressed a wish to adopt the ACAS document of November 1986 if the Government are willing to fund the package contained therein. My right hon. Friend expects to receive formal communications on this subject which he will consider carefully. However his position remains that he intends to see a satisfactory career structure for teachers implemented within the substantial resources which the Government have made available.