HC Deb 15 March 1988 vol 129 cc528-9W
19. Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to discuss with the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers problems caused by teacher shortages; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My officials have regular meetings with the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers at which they discuss teacher shortages and recruitment to initial teacher training. The most recent such meeting took place last Thursday. The latest figures for overall applications for initial teacher training this year are up almost 3 per cent. over the same period in 1987.

36. Mr. Wall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to meet the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers to discuss teacher shortages; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish).