asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has responded to the proposal by local education authorities to establish a national joint council to discuss pay and conditions of service for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I said as long ago as last March that I am prepared to consider the case for change, but that before coming to a firm view on the matter I should want to be satisfied that any new arrangements would offer the prospect of being a real improvement on the existing ones. I still await the detailed submission of such a case by the local authorities.