§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for the level of(a) teacher and (b) lecturer salaries, in real terms, in each of the next three years. [162673]
§ Mr. MilibandMy right hon. Friend has accepted the School Teachers' Review Body's recommendation that pay scales increase by 2.5 per cent. in April 2004 and by 3.25 per cent. in April 2005 to August 2006. This is in line with the Government's projections on the rate of inflation to 2006 and it is not, therefore, expected that teachers' pay will involve a real terms increase.
The Government play no part in setting the levels of pay in the higher education and further education sectors as universities and further education colleges are independent and autonomous bodies. Pay levels are subject to negotiations between employers and the representative trade union bodies. Pay levels will therefore vary from institution to institution.