§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he intends to publish his reply to inquiries from the International Labour Office relating to the withdrawal of teachers' negotiating rights in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will place in the Library a copy of his supplementary response of 29 October 1987 in relation to the Green Paper "Teachers' Pay and Conditions"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldEvidence submitted by the Government is confidential to the International Labour Organisation and its Committee on Freedom of Association. When the Committee on Freedom of Association has considered the evidence it will be for the governing body of the International Labour Organisation to decide what to publish.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to persuade firms to increase the experience of industry of teachers, especially in scarcity subjects.
§ Mrs. RumboldWe are keen to build bridges between education and industry and to provide all teachers with experience of industry, not just those in shortage subjects. A series of regional conferences to promote collaboration between firms and local education authorities has been held to provide a number of opportunities for teachers in the shortage subjects to obtain industrial experience. The partnership schemes developed by British Petroleum with Hertfordshire and Humberside, and between British Telecom and Bradford local education authorities, should also assist teachers awareness of industry. We are taking every opportunity to persuade employers of the importance of links with education and the value of giving teachers industrial experience is one part of this strategy.