§ Mr. StottTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding details of any guidance issued by the Department to those involved in determining salary placements as to the circumstances under which discretion may be exercised.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department of Education for Northern Ireland determines the salaries of teachers in Northern Ireland's grant-aided schools. Under the teachers' salaries regulations, incremental credit is awarded to a newly appointed teacher in respect of previous experience which the Department considers to be of value to him in the performance of his duty.
362WIn exercising this discretion, the Department awards the credit for previous experience which has relevance to service as a teacher and is of equivalent professional standard to teaching.