TNAG-0930-FCO40-1148-Sanctions-against-Iran-extension-to-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 346

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Scottish Teachers

23 APRIL 1980

CEGB POWER STATION, GRAIN

Mr. Brinton: I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the pur- pose of discussing a specific and impor- tant matter that should have urgent con- sideration, namely,

the announcement yesterday by the Central Electricity Generating Board that in June it is to close the power station at Grain, near Rochester in Kent.'

I believe this matter to be most urgent because about 2,000 persons will lose their jobs as a result of that decision, in an area where unemployment is already high. There is also urgent need for a full and thorough inquiry into the events which led to that decision by the CEGB.

There is urgent need to discover what would be the intention of the CEGB and the Government as regards the future of the vast site on which it is estimated that about £550 million has already been spent.

Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman gave me notice before noon today that he would seek leave to move the Adjourn- ment of the House for the purpose of dis- cussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent con- sideration, namely,

"the announcement yesterday by the Central Electricity Generating Board that in June it is to close the power station at Grain, near Rochester in Kent."

As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9, I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the order but to give no reasons for my decision. I listened with care to the hon. Gentleman expressing his anxieties about what is likely to happen in June, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.

SCOTTISH TEACHERS (PAY AND

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE)

Mr. Canavan: I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,

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the failure of the Clegg commission to pro- duce a satisfactory wages settlement for Scot-

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Scottish Teachers

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tish teachers and the resultant disruption in Scottish schools ".

It is an important matter, because not only is it important to get a fairer deal for the teachers, who are an important section of the community, but what is perhaps even more important is that the matter affects the educational opportunity of thousands of children, which is a matter of great concern to their parents.

I need not dwell on the importance of the matter to you, Mr. Speaker, because, like me, you spent part of your working life in education before coming to the House.

However, I should like to say a few words about the urgency of the situation. About 58,000 Scottish teachers have been waiting patiently for about a year for a fair settlement of their wages claim. On Monday of last week, the Clegg com- mission at last came out with recom- mendations for increases of between 17 per cent. and 25 per cent. for teachers in England and Wales, but it failed lament- ably to come out with a similar recom- mendation for teachers in Scotland and

virtually told Scottish teachers that they would have to start their own compara- bility study from scratch.

There was understandable anger and resentment at such shabby treatment from a commission chaired by a fellow educa- tionist, and perhaps it is not surprising that some teachers resorted to industrial action, even though the leadership of the teachers' union advised against that at this stage.

We can now see the results of the failure of the Clegg commission. Over the past few weeks, thousands of school- children in Scotland have been sent home from school or told not to come. There

is the possibility of further disruption, and even threats to the important Scot- tish certificate of Education examinations which are due to begin on Friday and which are of vital importance to the future of many young people.

On Monday of this week, the Scottish teachers' salaries committee failed to reach an amicable settlement, but reports suggest that it came within £1 million of a settlement. If the Government will express support in principle for the extra public expenditure involved, some of the heat could be taken out of the situation and a solution arrived at more speedily.