HC Deb 10 November 1988 vol 140 cc297-8W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail in theOfficial Report the training provision to be made for (a) parent and (b) teacher members of school boards.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

There is no differentiation between the central training provision to be made for parent and staff members of school boards. The training programme currently being developed by the Scottish Education Department will offer a wide range of choice to individual boards and board members and boards themselves will be free to choose training appropriate to their own circumstances.

I have already announced details of the programme and have arranged for copies of that announcement to be placed in the House Library.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department is prepared to meet the cost of releasing teachers to be members of school boards.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Like other members of a school board, staff members will serve on a voluntary basis in their own time. We shall be encouraging boards to meet at times—such as in the evening—which will be convenient for working people in order to enable a wide cross-section of the community to participate in the work of the boards.