HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 cc74-5W
27. Mr. Faulds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to obtain an accurate account of teacher shortages in secondary education.

Mr. Butcher

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Wall) on 26 April 1989 at column553.

33. Mr. Livsey

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

Mr. Butcher

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 26 April to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) at column554.

Ms. Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to obtain an accurate account of teacher shortages in nursery education.

34. Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to obtain an accurate account of teacher shortages in nursery education.

Mr. Butcher

The Department instituted the collection of data on vacant posts in nursery and primary schools for the first time in January 1988. We also conducted a primary school staffing survey in 1987 which provides extensive information about teachers in nursery and primary schools.

35. Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to solve the problems of teacher shortages in Surrey.

Mr. Butcher

The Department's action programme on teacher shortages has, over the last three years, been aimed at securing new recruits to teaching in the shortage subjects and at providing in-service training for existing but under-qualified teachers of these subjects. Action has, in particular, been focused on those parts of the country, including Surrey, where shortages have hit hardest. We plan to build on and extend that programme as necessary to secure the teachers that we need for our schools.