asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of secondary technical schools in England and Wales up to the end of June, 1961.

There are 228 secondary technical schools maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales.

Would not the Minister agree That, in view of the economic challenge of Soviet Communism and, indeed, of the Common Market—if we remain outside—technical education should be the No. 1 priority? Has the right hon. Gentleman any plans for increasing the number of technical schools?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the importance of technical education, but many local education authorities prefer to give this in secondary modern schools rather than in secondary technical schools. I would rather leave to them that freedom of choice.