Teacher numbers are dropping in North Lanarkshire at a considerable rate. From 2007-08, the figures are: pre-schoolprimary, down from 1,716 to 1,664; secondary, 1,845 to 1,804 and special needs, 200 to 190.

This is a drop of 103 front-line teachers in an area suffering extremely high social deprivation. Despite protestations from Jim Logue, the convener of the council’s learning and leisure services committee (TESS, April 3), Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop has good reason to be concerned about these Labour cuts.

Councillor Tom Johnston, learning and leisure spokesman, SNP group, North Lanarkshire Council.