Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1983.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Wales at the most recent count; and how this compares with the ratio in 1978.
The ratio was 21·8:1 in January 1983, compared with 22·6:1 in 1978.
Does my hon. Friend agree that there has been a satisfactory improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Wales since the Government took office?
I agree with my hon. Friend. We always strive to improve standards in education, and progress in the pupil-teacher ratio is satisfactory.
How much of the improvement is due to falling school rolls, and how much to the increase in the number of teachers recruited?
It is not possible to give a precise answer to the hon. Gentleman's question. Of course, falling school rolls have played a part, but local education authorities are responsible for their allocation of resources and their policies.