Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of teacher vacancies in the country, schools minister Stephen Timms revealed this week.
One in 12 teaching posts in the east London borough was unfilled in January 2001, the latest month for which figures are available.
Four of the five authorities with the biggest shortages are in inner London and the other, Slough, is just outside the M25.
Eleven authorities, mostly in the North, seem to have escaped the shortages altogether, according to Mr Timms. Plymouth and Rotherham reported only one vacancy at the beginning of the year.
Mr Timms was responding to a question from Conservative education spokesperson Graham Brady.
