asked the Minister of Education the number of vacant places in women's training colleges at the beginning of the 1953–54 session.

Information about the beginning of the 1953–54 session is not yet available. On 1st September this year there were 408 places in women's training colleges not yet filled or offered to selected students for courses of initial training beginning this autumn.

Can the right hon. Lady say what action she proposes to take to see that there are no empty places in the women's colleges?

I think that all who have been helping in this matter have done a very good job. On 1st September, 1952, there were 711 unfilled places. So it is better. The figures are that 8,566 places have been filled or offered this year and 8,315 last year; and there has also been an increase of 50 among the men students coming in.