asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the difficulty which is being experienced by educational establishments in this country in obtaining ordinary school text books owing to the shortage of paper and labour; and whether she is yet in a position to announce any new plans to overcome this difficulty.

I am aware that the shortage of school text books, which is attributable to war-time restrictions on labour and materials, is still causing difficulty. I would, however, refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) on 18th October, a copy of which I am sending him, and to which I am at present not in a position to add anything.