asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of reference given to the Committee on European Education set up by the Central African Council; and whether he will establish the principle that there can be no administrative amalgamation of the education departments of Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia, on the basis of racial segregation in schools.

The terms of reference of the committee are, in brief:

(a) to keep under review the existing arrangements for the education in Southern Rhodesia of European children from Northern Rhodesia;

(b)to recommend an equitable contribution by the Northern Rhodesia Government in respect of the cost of tuition of such children;

(c)to assist the Chief Secretary of the Council in studying the possibility of unification of the European Education Departments in the two territories; and

(d) to study arrangements for Asiatic and Coloured education in Northern and Southern Rhodesia.

As regards the second part of the Question, separate European educational establishments are at present in demand to meet practical requirements in all the Territories concerned. The committee has not finally reported and there is no cause for me to make any statement at this juncture.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the educational attainment of the child should be the basis of entering schools provided by public funds?

Obviously, that is a sound principle, but in regard to this problem, one must wait until the committee concerned has made its report.