asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his estimate of the present shortage of teachers of craft and design in primary and secondary schools;(2) what action he is taking to relieve the shortage of teachers of craft and design;(3) what action he is taking to improve the teaching of craft and design in schools.

In January 1979, local education authorities in England and Wales reported 294 vacancies for teachers of craft design and technology. However, preliminary analysis of data from the Department's 1977 secondary school staffing survey indicates that the real shortage could be in excess of 2,000 teachers.The Department is currently examining ways in which the shortage might be overcome. As an interim measure, the Government's special one-year courses to retrain teachers, or to train other appropriately qualified people, to teach these subjects are continuing in this academic year and have been approved for a further year, with financial support from the Manpower Services Commission.The Department also offers short courses to raise the standards of existing teachers and in conjunction with local authorities, has initiated a series of regional conferences to inform head teachers and departmental heads of the standards which should be achieved.