asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the Sex Discrimination Act is not being breached within the teaching profession; and how many breaches he is aware of in the teaching profession since the Act was passed.

My Department does not employ teachers and responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Sex Discrimination Act in the employment field rests with their employers, the local education authorities or the governing bodies of individual schools and colleges. The Act provides for complaints about sex discrimination in the employment field, in the teaching profession as in other occupations, to be dealt with by industrial tribunal. In 1978, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 16 applications to tribunals by men and women in professional and related occupations in education, welfare and health; separate figures for teachers are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry into possible contravention of the Sex Discrimination Act within the teaching profession.

No.