HC Deb 04 July 1989 vol 156 cc120-1W
22. Mr. Stott

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to reduce teacher shortages.

25. Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to reduce teacher shortages.

56. Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on teacher shortages.

61. Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the measures to reduce teacher shortages.

Mr. Butcher

Our action programme to combat teacher shortages was launched three years ago at a cost so far of £50 million. The programme includes a £1,300 bursary for trainee teachers in maths, physics, CDT and, from this September, in chemistry; an energetic teacher recruitment publicity campaign spearheaded by the teaching as a career unit; in-service training for under-qualified teachers and new courses of initial teacher training. From next April, under the education support grant programme, we shall be supporting expenditure of up to £2 million on local measures to boost the recruitment of former teachers and mature entrants to teaching.

34. Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to reduce teacher shortages in London and the south-east.

63. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to reduce teacher shortages in London and the south-east.

Mrs. Rumbold

Our action programme to combat teacher shortages has cost some £50 million over the last three years. Many of the measures have been targeted specifically at tackling the problems in London and the south-east. That action programme is continuing and will be reinforced as necessary. We have recently announced that the education support grant programme for 1990–91 will include support for up to £2 million on measures to boost the recruitment of mature entrants and teachers returning to the profession. I would expect many of the local authorities in London and the south-east to bid for inclusion within this programme.