asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that 11 candidates who recently sat a test for entry to the commercial course at Golspie Technical School were all failed, including at least one girl from Dornoch Academy with an excellent report; and if these candidates were "ploughed" for lack of merit or lack of places.

My right hon. Friend understands that although there were places for two or three more students in this further education course, only 12 candidates reached the required standard in the entrance test conducted by the education authority. The authority decided that none of the remaining 11 candidates could be regarded as qualified to enter in view of their performance in the test.

If my hon. Friend is satisfied with that answer, I am not. Is it not quite ridiculous that a student who has gained 70 per cent. at Dornoch Academy, the leading school in Sutherland, as against an average of 50 per cent. for all the other students, is debarred from entering this technical school on the grounds that she is not competent? May I remind the Minister that the London County Council stated in their educational report that 78 per cent. of the students passed out into a commercial college education? Why cannot Sutherland have an equal opportunity?

First, this is entirely a matter for the education authority, and the Secretary of State has no power to intervene. Secondly, most of the girls, including the young woman to whom my hon. Friend has referred in particular, failed because they did not reach an adequate standard in the English dictation test which is part of the entrance examination. I am afraid that we have to accept the decision of the education authority.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether those extra places he told us about were left unfilled?

My hon. Friend is asking about the 11 who failed——

Yes, I know. Who filled the places?

In view of the very unsatisfactory answer to my Question about 11 candidates, all of whom failed, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many education authorities have a regulation compelling teachers to keep a record book of corporal punishment as recommended in paragraph 464 of his Department's publication, "The Primary School in Scotland."

No education authority has made a regulation requiring all their teachers to keep records of all corporal punishment administered. When the memorandum to which the hon. Member refers was issued, it was not intended that its suggestions should be enforced by regulation but that they should be brought to the notice of teachers for their guidance. This has been done, and my right hon. Friend knows that some teachers have adopted the practice of keeping records.

Is this not an admission from the Under-Secretary of a great disregard on the part of the Scottish local authorities of the modest recommendation made four years ago in this document; and does he not feel, quite apart from any question of the eventual abolition of corporal punishment in our Scottish schools, that we ought to try to control it much more than we do? Would the hon. Gentleman not take some lead in this matter and try to keep Scotland's educational traditions at the level at which we used to be accustomed to have them?

It is the old question of the extent to which the central Department should dictate to local education authorities. In this matter, as in others, we take the view that the suggestion made in the memorandum should be regarded as a suggestion rather than a command, and left to the good sense of the teachers to act upon.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that we are losing all sense of proportion in this matter, and that to have a record kept of every time a child gets a couple on the pants is really too silly?

As it is four years since this publication came into the hands of the education authorities and of the teachers, and since we on this side of the House do not believe in direction, does not the Joint Under-Secretary of State now think it advisable to send a further circular to every education authority and ask them to let every teacher in Scotland have a copy of that circular?

Of course, I will consider the suggestion of the hon. Lady.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of money spent in 1953 on the transport of school children in the County of Midlothian.

The amount in the year ended 15th May, 1954, was £15,936.

Does not that indicate to the Joint Under-Secretary that it is more economical to build the necessary local schools?

No expenditure was incurred in transporting pupils because of local shortages of school accommodation in that area.

For instance, Penicuick and Dalkeith?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will establish a separate branch of the Education Department in which architects, administrators and inspectors will work together as a team to co-ordinate the efforts of the local authorities and quicker approval of school building projects.

There is already in the Education Department a separate branch which has a building development team composed of architects, administrators and inspectors to give general guidance to education authorities about school building. Quicker approval of building projects is normally obtained by informal consultation between the architects, and in some areas a joint working party of technical officers and administrators has been set up by the Department and the education authority to keep the building programme under frequent review. These arrangements are working reasonably well and my right hon. Friend does not propose to change them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the suggestion in this Question is one of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates in their eighth Report on education? Can he say whether the frustrating and irritating delays which occurred in sanctioning of plans for schools because of plans being passed backwards and forwards between Government Departments and local authorities is now being cut down?

We are endeavouring ail the time to cut down any unnecessary red tape. I can assure the hon. Member that we are giving special attention to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in respect of recommendation 19 of the eighth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates that Scottish local authorities should be given the same power as English and Welsh local authorities to co-opt teachers for consultation in respect of design and planning of new schools.

In Circular 268 of 13th June, 1953, my right hon. Friend advised education authorities to obtain advice on the planning of schools from experienced teachers. As regards the co-option of teachers to education committees, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 26th January to the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Educational Institute of Scotland on the question of monthly payment of teachers' pensions; and what action is proposed.

At a meeting on 17th July, the Educational Institute of Scotland made representations to my right hon. Friend about the monthly payment of teachers' pensions. He is considering these representations, but he cannot at present make any statement on the subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman say when we are likely to have an answer, as 17th July is almost four months ago?

If the hon. Member is asking for a date, I am afraid I cannot give him one.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when approval was granted by his Department for building an annexe to Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry; when build- ing was commenced; when it was originally estimated it would be completed; and what steps are now being taken to ensure completion in time for occupation in August, 1955.

The proposal was approved in principle in December, 1950. Building began in April, 1952, and the education authority estimated that it would be completed in 18 months. The labour force on the job has recently been increased.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the building will be completed? Will it be ready for the next school session? Is he aware that educational development is considerably held up and that the teachers in this school are at their wits end to know how to deal with the present overcrowding?

It is estimated by the local education authority that the school should be ready by February next year. The Scottish Education Department can claim that it has borne a considerable part in expediting the work in recent months.