The McCrone Committee, which is due to report in about two weeks times, began its work before Christmas after teachers' leaders and their local authority employers failed to agree reforms.

We hope the committee has done an objective assessment of how teachers' pay has fallen behind over the years compared with the nursing sector

David Eaglesham, SSTA

Early indications are that the inquiry will back the retention of national pay bargaining, raise the possibility of local pay and conditions deals as well as recommending a substantial pay rise for teachers.

The general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, David Eaglesham, said he was looking forward to the inquiry report.

"It is still too early to say what the McCrone Committee will recommend, but we in the union are keen to see teachers receive a substantial rise in pay because that has been a problem over the last few years.

The inquiry is due to report soon

"We will also be looking to McCrone for improved conditions.

"We hope the committee has done an objective assessment of how teachers' pay has fallen behind over the years compared with the nursing sector.

"It has to be a substantial figure it has to be something which satisfies the long term needs of the profession," said Mr Eaglesham.

He welcomed indications that a national pay negotiations system should be retained.

"That is the only serious mechanism and we want to see that continue," added Mr Eaglesham.

The independent McCrone Inquiry is headed by retired civil servant Professor Gavin McCrone and was set up by the Scottish Executive.

Its brief was to look at a number of key areas - among them working conditions, workload and the thorny issue of pay.

Rows over pay nearly led to strike action

The committee received written submissions and took evidence from teachers, parents and pupils.

Its members have been working on similar lines to the Cubie Inquiry into student finance which reported earlier this year.

The old system of teachers' wage negotiations fell apart following the long and protracted set of negotiations last year.

The discussions, which stretched for more than nine months, produced row after row and almost erupted in strike action.

Teachers voted overwhelmingly to hold a ballot on the subject of industrial action.

However, that was called off when a last minute 3.6% pay rise - financed by extra cash from the Scottish Executive - was offered and accepted.

The negotiations were finalised by the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee.

A slowness in settling the 1999 pay deal led Scotland's education minister Sam Galbraith to declare that the SJNC would be abolished and the McCrone Committee set up to find an alternative.