asked the Minister of Education how many university graduates, holders of diplomas from training colleges, emergency teachers, temporary teachers and occasional teachers are now employed in national schools; and how many of each category were employed a year ago in these schools.

The following table gives the information for maintained primary and secondary schools and for special schools as at 31st March, 1946, the latest date for which these particulars are available:

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of entrance scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge have been awarded during the past year to pupils from the national schools and from independent schools, respectively; and what was the proportion in this respect in the year before the outbreak of war.

In the academic year 1937–38, the latest prewar year for which figures are available, 798 open scholarships and open exhibitions were awarded by the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Of these, 437, or 55 per cent., were awarded to pupils from secondary schools on the grant list, 343, or 43 per cent., to those from other secondary schools, and 18, or 2 per cent., to those from other Institutions.For the current academic year no complete information is available, but the details published up to the 25th January, 1947, show that of 571 scholarships and exhibitions, 306, or 54 per cent., were awarded to pupils from secondary schools on the grant list, and 265, or 46 per cent., to those from other schools.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will reconsider his decision not to authorise a steel permit for the proposed new junior-mixed primary school at Stevenage, Hertfordshire; and whether he is aware that the existing school is about 112 years old and that the conditions are most unsatisfactory.

The provision of the proposed new primary school at Stevenage must be considered in connection with the New Town proposals, and it is not possible at present to authorise steel for its erection on the grounds of the age and condition of the existing schools.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that doctors are experiencing difficulty in obtaining the necessary apparatus for administering anaesthetics, as in the example submitted to him; and if he will rectify this position.

Up to 1939 we were largely dependent upon imports of this apparatus. British production is now being developed and the increasing output is reducing delays in delivery. My Department has encouraged new firms to start production and is helping the manufacturers wherever possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the manufacture of base papers for printing engineering drawings has recently been reduced; and what steps he is taking to ensure that engineering firms are adequately supplied.

The production of paper for all purposes is necessarily curtailed owing to the shortage of coal and some reduction in the supplies of paper to engineering firms is unavoidable. The position will, however, be kept under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that veterinary surgeons are seriously inconvenienced in their work, as an example submitted demonstrates, by the impossibility of procuring Novalgin, of which the home market is deprived by his decision to re-export the small quantity obtained from U.S. sources; and if he will rectify this position.

I am advised that suitable alternatives produced in this country are available for veterinary purposes. In these circumstances I do not consider that expenditure of dollars on imports for home use is justified.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that Mr. S. Hanney, 42, Brooke Avenue, Margate, who is 67 years of age and whose pension No. is 03505347, applied last November for his new increased pension book and, up till now, has not received it; and whether he will take immediate steps to see that this pension book is sent to him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Miss Mary A. Holroyd, Balme Road, Cleckheaton, pension No. 52534537, who retired from work on 28th September, 1946, and notified his Department of such intention in June, 1946, will receive the £16s. pension payable at the Cleckheaton Moor End sub-post office, together with the arrears of benefit to which she has been entitled since the first pay week in October.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, when Mr. Edgar Smith, 1146, London Road, Derby, can expect the renewal of his old age pension book, his previous one, No. 01487811, having expired on 12th December, 1946, since which date he has written to Blackpool four times and received only an acknowledgment card.

Inquiries into these cases are in hand, and I will write to the hon. Members as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will circulate in HANSARD a full statement on the result of last year's inquiry into the alleged black market transactions and other irregularities at the Control Commission clubs in Detmold and Vinsebeck.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th February, 1947; Vol. 433, c. 96–7], supplied the following statement:The inquiry into the conditions at the Control Commission clubs at Detmold and Vinsebeck was thorough and detailed. 86 witnesses were examined; the opinion recorded by the court extended to 40 pages. This report was carefully considered by the Army, Royal Air Force and Control Commission authorities. Some lack of supervision and some minor irregularities such as a cash transaction to facilitate the provision of club accessories were revealed. The authorities concerned considered, however, that no offences of any serious nature could be preferred against any service officer or any member of the Control Commission.