asked the Minister of Education if he will issue a circular to education authorities suggesting that, where practicable, arrangements should be made for secondary school pupils to pay at least one visit to a coal mine.

I am anxious that secondary school pupils should gain first hand knowledge of the way the country's work is done. Visits to coal mines and other establishments are best left to local arrangement.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be a very useful part of anybody's education to have to crawl 300 yards in a coal mine in a 4 ft. seam? A large number of hon. Members have never had this experience. If the right hon. Gentleman would like to have that experience, would he care to come with me, like the Eton boys, to educate himself?

I have had this experience, and I enjoyed it.

How long?