Ms Sheila Nunan:

It is completely unfair, and we said so publicly at the introduction. I note the Deputy's earlier comment about fairness. This involves the introduction not just of a second but of a third salary scale. There was the 6% to 7% cut plus the pension levy for everybody. The following year there was the introduction of a 10% pay cut across the public service, but for teachers, because they had to revert to the first point of the scale, it was in the region of 12% to 14%. That was the second scale. This year, with the abolition of allowances, there is the introduction of a third tier. Without doubt, this will create much difficulty in schools. Clearly, in terms of incremental pay, people are on different levels in individual schools, but that is different from having people on different scales. It is unfair and unjust to new entrants into the profession and will be a recipe for not-so-pleasant relations within staff rooms in the future.