asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply of 21 November to the hon. Member for Rugby, how many inquiries relating to pupils wishing to leave early to take up permanent employment or apprenticeships were received by his Department for the years 1970 to 1978, inclusive; and if he will give an estimate of the number for 1979.

Written inquiries from individuals are retained only for 12 months: details are not therefore available for the years before 1979. This year the Department estimates that about 100 written inquiries and a similar number of was 16·8:1. To maintain the ratio at this level would require the following estimated numbers of teachers: