asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of persons employed by education authorities throughout the country; what percentage of this total is teachers; and if he will compare these figures with those for 1965.

The number of persons employed by local education authorities in England and Wales is published each year in the Department of Employment Gazette. In June 1974 the figure was 1,332,000, of whom 51 per cent. were teachers; in June 1965, 855,000, of whom 53 per cent. were teachers. In both years teachers accounted for just over 70 per cent. of full-time staff employed.