asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how his plans for overcoming educational disadvantage are progressing.

The educational disadvantage unit within my Department has been at work since last September. Following a number of valuable local seminars, I intend to hold a national conference on educational disadvantage on 16th April, and a consultative paper setting out proposals for the establishment of an information centre has recently been sent to the interested parties. I am glad to say that Sir Alec Clegg, formerly Chief Education Office of the West Riding, has agreed to be chairman of governing body of this centre.