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Jim Tolson - Press Release
Contact Details: Josh Green 020 7219 5054/07879003467
Embargo: 00.01, Monday 14 January, 2007
Teacher reservists denied time to train by Council
Lib Dems say guidelines undermine vital role of reservists
A Liberal Democrat Member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee and a former Naval Reservist are calling on the Scottish Executive and Fife Council to review guidelines for teachers who are reservists in the armed forces. Willie Rennie, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, and Jim Tolson, Lib Dem Scottish Parliamentary Spokesman for Dunfermline West, made the call after a constituent complained that they had been denied time off for important training in the Royal Naval Reserves.
They want the guidelines, which date back to 1995, to be reviewed after he found that teachers were allowed time off for a range of other duties during term time including serving on a River Purification Board but were excluded from partaking in reservist training unless they were a commanding officer or another person holding a key position.
Willie Rennie MP said:
"I was staggered that that the guidelines should be so dismissive of the role of reservists. At a time when our armed forces are overstretched with our commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan the reservists are being increasingly called upon. Reservists are contributing to the security of our country yet the guidelines consider representation on a River Purification Board, which doesn’t even exist anymore, more important."
"Of course it is the case that teachers need to be in the classroom teaching but the Scottish Executive and Councils across the country need to consider what benefit this training would be to the quality of the education and the running of the school. In many cases the training would be highly beneficial to the school and ultimately the pupils."
Jim Tolson, who served as a Royal Naval Reservist for several years said:
"Reservists who are teachers will try their best to take part in training in school holidays but this is not always possible. In these cases requests for leave should be considered in the same way as other public duties such as for those who are trade union officials, councillors and - yes - even River Purification Board members!"
Willie Rennie has today written to the Education Minister Hugh Henry, Defence Secretary Des Browne and Fife’s Education Spokeswoman Kay Morrison.
Notes:
Agreement and procedure for time off work – teaching staff
7.1 Leave of absence for a teacher who is a member of the territorial forces to attend annual training camp at a time other than during a school holiday period will not be granted except in the case of a commanding officer or other member holding a key position where it is essential that he/she attend the camp. In these circumstances a certificate to this effect should be obtained from the responsible forces authority. No leave of absence will be granted in connection with training cadets.
5.1 Reasonable time off with pay will normally be given to undertake the following public duties, subject to 5.2 below:-
Justice of the Peace
Member of a local authority
Member of any statutory tribunal (including Children’s Panel)
Member of a Health Board, Health council or Health Trust
Member of a College Council or the governing body of a central institution or establishment training teachers
Member of River Purification Board
Member of a School Board for meetings of Appointment Committees
5.2 In these cases, the total paid time off is restricted to a maximum of 208 hours in each financial year…
Ministry of Defence advice for employers
Do I have to give Reservists time off for training?
No. It is not a legal requirement, and we recognise that there may be times when you can't give Reservists time off. However, you should bear in mind that the training they are getting may well complement and support your own staff development programme. Before turning a request down, try to find out exactly what's involved and think about whether the training could actually benefit your organisation.
Leave for training
Most Volunteer Reservists have a commitment to around 30 days' training throughout the year. This typically consists of one evening a week, one weekend a month and a 15-day continuous training period (sometimes known as Annual Camp). You are under no obligation to grant a request by a Reservist employee for additional paid or unpaid leave. However, many employers realise that the valuable, transferable skills gained in training will benefit their business, and grant extra leave, paid or unpaid, for the continuous training period.