§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to discourage existing teachers from leaving the profession.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe interim advisory committee estimated in its reports in 1988 and 1989 that fewer than 1 per cent. of teachers leave teaching for other paid employment and commented that this wastage rate was low. The attraction of teaching as a career can only be enhanced by the Government's education reforms.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the comments on teacher shortages made by the senior chief inspector in his report, "Standards in Education 1987–88".
§ Mrs. RumboldThis report confirms the analysis of teacher shortages which forms the basis of our vigorous action programme to combat the problem.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to monitor the effect of teacher shortages on the implementation of the national curriculum.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department already collects data annually on vacant teacher posts and we shall continue to do so. Information regulations to be made under section 22 of the Education Reform Act will enable us to obtain annual information on the curriculum offered in schools and on teacher deployment.