asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to improve recruitment for work in infant and nursery schools.

The first essential step is to extend facilities for training and this is being (lone so far as possible. The women's training colleges, both emergency and permanent, are being expanded and more attention is being given to the training of teachers for work with young children. I am discussing with the Interim Committee for Teachers what further steps can be taken to secure that more students are admitted for this form of work and what other measures can be taken to make this branch of the teaching service more attractive.

In view of the very grave shortage that exists for teachers for young children, will my right hon. Friend take steps to visit secondary schools to see, whether girls can be recruited?

It is no use recruiting at this stage unless we have somewhere to put the recruits. It is not that we are short of applicants but rather that we are short of training places for them.

If I could direct the attention of my right hon. Friend to houses which would be suitable would he have a look at them?

We are already taking houses at a very rapid rate with a view to turning them into emergency colleges. This question is being looked at with that in mind.