HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 c390W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what investigation she carries out into those agencies which are supplying overseas trained teachers for employment in British schools; [66629]

(2) what help is available to overseas trained teachers who have found employment in British schools for familiarisation with the education system; and for what period this lasts; [66630]

(3) if she will make a statement on whether overseas trained teachers are subject to normal qualified teacher status procedures; 166631]

(4) what the cost has been to the British education system of employing overseas trained teachers in each year since 1999. [66632]

Mr. Miliband

Employment agencies in Great Britain are regulated under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and associated regulations, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The DTI Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate enforces the legislation and investigates complaints about the conduct of agencies.

Induction arrangements for new teachers are the responsibility of the recruiting school or local education authority. Many provide such training and support networks. Those in London will, in future, be further supported by the new Recruitment and Retention Unit in the Government office for London.

In order to teach in a maintained school in England it is generally necessary to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Current regulations do not allow for the automatic recognition of teaching qualifications gained abroad, unless the teacher is a national of a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA). The Education (Teachers) Qualifications and Health Standards Regulations 1999 (as amended) allow schools to appoint overseas trained teachers without QTS in three circumstances: as trainees on an employment based route; as a temporary teacher in a school or a number of schools for up to four years without QTS; as 'instructors'—persons offering particular skills who may he appointed when no qualified teacher with such skills is available.

The information about costs is not collected centrally.