§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Professional Association of Teachers is recognised in the determination of statutory and non-statutory pay and conditions of employment in each part of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIn England and Wales, the Government recognise the Professional Association of Teachers and consults it on statutory pay and conditions. For the future, the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions (No. 2) Bill will require the new review body, which will deal with statutory pay and conditions, to invite evidence from representative bodies, such as the Professional Association of Teachers. The determination of non-statutory pay and conditions is a matter for local education authorities and the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools.
In Scotland, the Scottish joint negotiation committee determines the statutory pay and conditions of service for school teachers. The Professional Association of Teachers is represented on the committee. In Northern Ireland, the association has not yet met the minimum membership requirement to satisfy the conditions laid down for representation on the Northern Ireland Teachers Council. Under the council's constitution, this is a precondition for representation on its negotiating committee for teachers' pay and conditions of service.