asked the President of the Board of Education how many classes in public elementary schools there were, at the latest convenient date, with more than 5o on the roll and with between 40 and 5o on the roll, distinguishing between infant and junior departments on the one hand and senior schools and departments on the other?

For the reason given in reply to a Question on the same subject by the hon. Member on 5th March, 1942, I am unable to give particulars of the size of classes during the war period.

Cannot my right hon. Friend give some approximate information as to the number of these excessively large classes?

I cannot do it by way of statistics at present, because I have not got them, but I can say that there are a number of these classes and that we are doing our best to reduce them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in, view of the urgent need for more teachers on the conclusion of the war, any further measures are being taken to increase the supply of students in the training colleges and departments of education, having in mind that the entry of women students in 1943 is expected to be far short of the authorised number?

I assume that the hon. Member's Question refers particularly to women students. The Board's returns are not yet complete, but there is evidence to show that the number of women students in training colleges and training departments in 1943 will be substantially larger than it was in 1942. I keep the question of the supply of teachers under constant review, and only last February issued a statement, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend, designed to encourage recruits to the teaching profession.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that in spite of a certain increase, the number of entrants will still fall far short of that required, in view of the need for more teachers in future?

We could do with more teachers, and that is why we are doing all in our power to encourage entrants.

Has my right hon. Friend's Department taken any further action with a view to releasing some of the teachers in the Services of low medical category who can be of no possible use in many cases in the Services and so relieve the grievous shortage of teachers?

I am naturally in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, but I can give no general undertaking of that kind.

Are women students who are undergoing training being called up for the Forces?

I need notice of that Question.

asked the President Of the Board of Education the present approximate number of evacuated schoolchildren; to what extent there has been a recent increase in child evacuation in the London area; and approximately what proportion of children are now not receiving full-time education?

According to the latest returns received from local education authorities, the approximate number of evacuated schoolchildren in the reception areas in December, 1942, was 222,000. There has been no material change during recent weeks in child evacuation from the -London area. The proportion of children who were receiving less than full-time education at the date of the last returns in December last was approximately one-half of 1 per cent.

Even though that is a gratifying and small percentage, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to see that even the few that exist have full-time education?

We have reduced this problem to an absolute minimum under war conditions, and I shall squeeze the matter further, but it would be difficult to find any better result than we have achieved in any country in the world.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able to announce when he will introduce his new Education Bill; whether this will include proposals for a comprehensive, expanded school medical service; whether it will also include arrangements respecting religious instruction agreed by the principal ecclesiastical bodies; and if any agreed national syllabus of ethical or religious principles will be recommended?

As I have informed the hon. Member on a number of previous occasions, I will make an announcement on the Government's education proposals as a whole as soon as I am in a position to do so. In the meantime I have nothing to add to that statement.

As it is some time since we were told that a Bill would be introduced, will my right hon. Friend at least give some interim indications of the points to be covered in the Bill?

No, Sir, I will certainly not do that. I think it is much better to present the plans as a whole when they have received the approval and support of the Government.

Is it not the case that as soon as the hon. Member has been educated he will not need to ask so many questions?

Is not the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) taking the other Member for his looking-glass?