asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the Aviation Education Research Project now being sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the United States of America to promote in teachers and pupils in the schools and colleges a fuller understanding of the term "air age" with all its implications; and what steps is he taking to secure for teachers and pupils in England and Wales similar opportunities?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of this interesting project, and am taking steps to examine it more fully, so as to be in a better position to answer the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question.

asked the President of the Board of Education the conditions recently laid down for the conscription of young women students, and the probable effect of such upon the staffing of our schools in the immediate post-war years?

The conditions under which women students may proceed in the coming autumn to courses of training for teachers or youth leaders are set out in Circular 1620, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The evidence I have to date gives me ample reason to believe that, as the result of these conditions, there will be no fall in the number of entrants to training colleges next autumn as compared with last year.

asked the President of the Board of Education what plans he has prepared, or has in course of preparation, for the expansion of our education system in immediate post-war years; and is he satisfied that the supply of fully trained teachers will be sufficient to meet the new demands?

As I have stated in reply to previous Questions, I will make an announcement on the Government's education proposals as soon as I am in a position to do so. I intend to take the steps necessary to ensure that there will be enough trained teachers to meet the needs.

In view of the unfortunate answer which the right hon. Gentleman gave to me on the previous Question, has he not now obviously abandoned all hope of any extension of our educational system at the end of this war because of the fact that there will be a very severe shortage of fully trained teachers?

Not at all. The statement recently made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service indicated the specific steps that the Government have taken to encourage entrants to the teaching profession and give them opportunities for training at the end of the war.

Are we to understand that the arrangement already deferred means that thousands of young teachers will be precluded from being trained until the end of the war, and, therefore, where is he going to get his supply of trained teachers?

If my hon. Friend will study Circular 1620—and I am ready to give him any expert assistance he may desire—he may find that we are maintaining the position remarkably well in spite of the exigencies of the call-up.