Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Gove and Hywel Williams

Monday 12th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC)]

16. What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on teachers’ pay in Wales.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove)]

I met the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning in the Welsh Executive, Mr Leighton Andrews, on 28 June, as part of a schedule of meetings since taking up my post. I look forward to having an ongoing discussion with him and his colleagues on this and other important issues.

[Hywel Williams]

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. What consideration is he giving to introducing regional variation in teachers’ pay outside London?

[Michael Gove]

As I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, teachers’ pay and conditions are set by the School Teachers Review Body, which governs England and Wales. I will have ongoing discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government, and it is important that we ensure that teachers have certainty in the future. It is my understanding that the current arrangements are working in the interests of teaching unions and teachers across England and Wales, but I would be very happy to receive any representations from the hon. Gentleman to ensure that the recruitment and retention of teachers in his constituency—in a very beautiful part of north-west Wales—are made as easy as possible.