asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will announce the membership of the steering group which is to study further the question of a common system of examining at 16-plus; and whether she will make a statement.

I regret that information is not available in some cases for the dates requested. The available figures are as follows:

I have appointed a steering committee with the following membership:—

Sir James Waddell, CB (Chairman).

Mr. R. H. Bird, Under Secretary, Department of Education and Science.

Miss S. J. Browne, HM Inspector.

Mr. Ron Cocking, Headmaster, Colmers Farm Junior School, Birmingham, Member of the Schools Council.

Mr. Walter Cooke, OBE, Headmaster, Highfield Comprehensive School, Gateshead. Member of the Schools Council.

Mrs. Lorna Denton, Parent, Secretary, Derby Federation of Parent Teacher Associations.

Mr. A. H. Jennings, Headmaster, Ecclesfield Comprehensive School, Sheffield. Member of the Schools Council.

Cllr. Peter Horton, Chairman, Association of Metropolitan Authorities Education Committee and Chairman, Sheffield Education Committee.

Mr. J. A. Hudson, CB, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education and Science.

Dr. Barbara E. Marsh, JP, Chairman, Shropshire Education Committee.

Mr. D. Mumford, CBE, Principal, Cambridge College of Art and Technology.

Mr. W. Pearson, JP, Chairman, Education and Training Committee, Birmingham Chamber of Industry.

Dr. William Taylor, Director, University of London Institute of Education.

Mrs. Pat Turner, National Woman Officer, General and Municipal Workers Union.

Mr. J. E. Williams, Headmaster, Prestatyn High School, Clwyd, Wales.

Miss Sheila Wood, CBE, Hon. Secretary, Joint Four Member of the Schools Council.

The committee will oversee a full study of the issues involved and advise me and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on a number of specific matters of difficulty. This is a task to which I attach great importance.