asked the Minister of Education the numbers of pupils, giving boys and girls separately, in England and Wales who obtained two or more passes at advanced level of the General Certificate of Education for the first time in each year since the examination was introduced; and the numbers, giving boys and girls separately, who came from maintained schools, direct grant grammar schools, independent schools, establishments of further education and other schools respectively, for each of those years.

Until 1957 returns of G.C.E. results were related to subject entries and not to the number of pupils. From 1957 onwards the information available nearest to that requested by the hon. Member relates to leavers from grant-aided schools—excluding secondary modern and all-age schools—age 17 and over who obtained two or more passes at "A" level. These figures have been published in the Ministry's Annual Reports. I refer the hon. Member to:

• Table D in "Education in 1958".
• Table 39 in "Education in 1959".
• Table 48 in "Education in 1960".

An extended and improved inquiry covering secondary modern schools and independent schools recognised as efficient has been made this year. The results will be available in the spring.