asked the Minister of Education the total value of building licences issued to independent schools for work done in their premises during 1951; and what is the value of building work licences for 1952.

During 1951 building licences to the value of £1,979,000 were issued by the Ministry of Works on the recommendation of my Department. I estimate that about half of this total was for work at independent schools. No figures are yet available for 1952.

Is the Minister aware that many of these schools are in houses and buildings which are well below the standards expected by H.M. Inspectors and that they do need this attention? But if building cuts are to be endured by State schools, will she see that these independent schools also take their place in the queue besides them?

If the hon. Member will read Circular 245 again he will see that exactly the same procedure applies to these schools.

asked the Minister of Education to ensure that the additional accommodation necessary for the increased school population will be available in 1953.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Ealing, South (Mr. Maude) on 28th February.

Does that reply mean that the Minister is completely satisfied that by 1953 all the necessary accommodation will be available?

I am satisfied that the building programme should produce the number of extra school places that my predecessor was satisfied were necessary. I think he was right in his judgment of the extra number of school places—1,150,000.

asked the Minister of Education how many school building projects in England and Wales, respectively, are affected by her economy Circular 245.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools originally contained in the uncompleted educational building programme for 1951–52 and the programme for 1952–53 have been excluded from the revised programme for 1952–53; and how many school places, in primary, secondary and technical schools does this represent.

I regret that I cannot give this information until discussions with all local education authorities have been completed and the whole of the revised school building programme for 1952–53 has been settled.

Can the Minister say how long we shall have to wait before we know how many school building projects in Wales will be brought to a standstill?

I cannot say exactly when this full information can be given because we are communicating with each local authority and it depends how long these discussions take. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I will give him the information as soon as I have it.

Has not the ban on school building for three months and the consequent late starting dates dissipated the building force? In those circumstances will the right hon. Lady be able to complete the projects which have been set down?

Yes. With the stopping of new starts I think we shall be able to complete the buildings that we require by the end of this year. The fact that we have concentrated on completing buildings under construction will, I think, be more satisfactory than having a larger programme of buildings not completed.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the figures which she admits are correct were based upon a programme which has now been suspended?

I quite agree. The figure of 1,150,000 that the right hon. Gentleman thought sufficient is the basis for my programme. I do not think that we should have had that completed—and we certainly would not have had the 400,000 places required at the end of this year—if we had allowed new starts without completing the work already under construction.

asked the Minister of Education the total amounts spent on school building for the financial years 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52; and the estimated amount that will be spent from 1952–53.

Capital expenditure on school building is recorded by calendar years. The sum invested on major projects was £12 million in 1948, £16.5 million in 1949, £29 million in 1950 and £37 million in 1951. The forecast of investment in 1952 is £36.5 million.

asked the Minister of Education why she has given instructions to the Kent County Council to hold up the building of 14 proposed schools in view of the difficulty now being experienced with regard to school accommodation and the greatly increased school population to be catered for in the next two years; and what proposed schools are affected.

The reasons for revising the 1952–53 school building programme are explained in Circular 245, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The revised programme for Kent has not yet been settled, and I cannot say exactly which projects will be deferred.

But is not the Minister aware that the Chairman of the Kent Education Committee, a Conservative, has said that, as a result of instructions from the Minister of Education, school building in Kent will come to a dead stop, 14 proposed schools will not be built, 4,000 primary and secondary school places will be lost, and that this is a serious blow? Will she give an assurance that at least the urgently needed Erith Grammar School, about which she gave such an optimistic reply some months ago, will not be held up at all?

I think it is known that the Kent authority had got on very well with their building. At the end of 1951 they had provided about 40,000 new places, and nearly another 15,000 were under construction. [An HON. MEMBER: Why not answer the question?"] In answering the question I am giving the facts. We have not yet decided with the Kent authority what the school building programme will be, but it will be directed to the same aims as there are in the areas of other local authorities—to the providing of places on new housing areas and where there is an extra school population.

As that is one of the most shocking answers I have ever heard—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment—to convince hon. Members opposite.

On a point of order. The hon. Member has just given notice that he will raise the matter on the Adjournment in words which, I understand, Mr. Speaker, contravene a Ruling of your predecessor, which stated quite clearly that the correct words to be used were, "In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply—" and so on.

I do not ask hon. Members, when they ask supplementary questions, to leave out of their questions words of an objurgatory character. It does not expedite business. The word "shocking" is capable of several connotations. I took it to mean, in this case, that the hon. Member found that the answer came as a shock to him.

asked the Minister of Education if she will hold a special inquiry into the proposals of the local education authorities who, in response to Circular 242, are impairing the main structure of the educational system.

No, Sir, I do not think that there is any occasion for such an inquiry. If an authority were to propose measures inconsistent with the guidance given in the opening paragraph of the Circular, I should take the matter up with them directly, as I have already done in one or two instances.

Is the Minister aware that there are several authorities who are going far beyond Circular 242? If she will not grant a special inquiry will she be very vigilant and prevent their putting into effect what is beyond the requirements of the Circular?

Certainly—and I shall be receiving estimates from the local authorities in April.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will refuse to sanction those economies in the services administered by local education authorities which will reduce educational opportunity.

The basis on which I have asked authorities to seek economies in preparing their detailed estimates for the coming financial year is clearly stated in the first paragraph of Circular 242. As regards university scholarships and similar awards to students, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular which I have recently issued to local authorities.

In view of the assurance which the right hon. Lady has given, implicitly, will she ensure that local authorities who are contemplating cuts in their grants to students are not allowed to make those cuts?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the circular he will see that I have asked local authorities to await the further information they are to receive and the further schemes which I am sending to them before they decide on the number of their awards.

asked the Minister of Education if she has completed her review of the forecasts of educational expenditure of local education authorities for 1952–53; and if she will present detailed information for each local authority.

No, Sir. While it is open to authorities to consult my Department—and some have already done so—Circular 242 does not ask them to submit revised figures showing the result of their review of the forecasts which they prepared last autumn. This will be reflected in the estimates which the authorities will be sending to my Department about April next.

Would it not be possible to give a general survey for each county when all these forecasts are presented? Would that not enable hon. Members to have a better picture of what the local authorities are doing in response to the circulars?

I am not asking them for forecasts. I shall know when the estimates come in in April.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has yet approved the decision of the Buckinghamshire Education Authority to reduce education expenditure by £80,000 for the forthcoming year, including £29,150 on upkeep of buildings and grounds, £5,000 on equipment and furniture for primary and secondary schools, £4,200 on further education, £1,350 on aid to pupils and university grants, and £5,700 on medical inspection and treatment; and to what extent this reduction is in addition to a reduction of £14,000 reported to her Department prior to her recent circular authorising a cut of 5 per cent.

Circular 242 does not ask authorities to submit for my approval the reductions which they decide to make in their forecasts for 1952–53. As regards the reduction of £14,000 referred to, I understand that in preparing their detailed estimates last November the authority corrected by this sum an overestimate in the forecast which they had prepared the previous month. The figure of £80,000 quoted by the hon. Member includes this sum.

Is it not a fact that the figures given in this Question represent the published original estimates for this year and the cuts which followed the right hon. Lady's Circular? Does she not regard these cuts as interferring with the county's educational fabric?

When the estimates are sent to my Department in April I shall certainly see if any economies which are made interfere with the essential fabric of education, and if they do I shall discuss the matter with the authority concerned.

As the Minister appears to be against the detailed economies mentioned in the House, is she still certain that she will get the original economies for which she asked?

Nothing in this life is certain; we can only hope.

asked the Minister of Education if she will make a grant to the British Schools Exploring Society.

No, Sir. I do not think it reasonable to take on an additional commitment of this kind at the present time.

Is the Minister aware that this Society has been sending 60 or 70 boys annually on expeditions to parts of the Commonwealth and Scandinavia and that many secondary school boys have been able to go only because they have been able to obtain assistance, as they are the children of working-class people? Is she aware that if the Society does not give assistance the only boys who will be able to go will be the sons of wealthy parents from the public schools?

It is open to education authorities to assist boys if they are satisfied of the value of the expedition. I do not think I can take on an extra commitment however much I might feel it would be good for these boys to join these expeditions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that boys who go on these expeditions and who cannot pay their own fees are already subsidised from various quarters and have no great difficulty in getting subsidies, and that she is quite right in leaving well alone?

Is the right hon. Lady prepared to advise a local authority to assist in a special case?

I think that local authorities must decide for themselves. This would be an entirely new commitment for the Ministry, calling for an Exchequer grant, and I do not think that this is the time for me to enter into a new commitment.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the wastage of meat that occurs in many schools where children are supplied with such meals as so many children do not like it; and whether she will provide suitable and nourishing dishes, without meat, to all children so desiring it, as was arranged at the inauguration of this scheme.

No, Sir. Meat meals are not provided every day, and it would not be practicable to provide special meals on days when meat is served.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that great dissatisfaction is caused because some children are forced to have these meat meals when neither they nor their parents want them? Is she further aware that if meatless meals can be provided she will save meat for those who want it?

I do not think it is possible to differentiate. I have had investigations made and I find that there is less waste in meat than in anything else.

asked the Minister of Education how many disputes have been formally declared by divisional executives against county education committees; and how many of these were decided in favour of the divisional executives.

Fourteen. Three fully and one partly.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that recent experiments indicate that individual scores in group intelligence tests can be improved by systematic coaching; and whether, in view of the use made of such tests in the competitive selection of children for different types of secondary education, she will advise local education authorities on the best way of correcting this.

I think it best that I should leave local education authorities to work out methods for determining the most suitable secondary education for each child.

Is the Minister not aware that the Professor of Educational Psychology for the Institute of Education has suggested that scores of intelligence quotients can be raised by as much as 14 points by systematic coaching? Is it not desirable that there should be a uniform practice in this matter either by giving coaching, as he suggests, or by forbidding it altogether?

I do not think it is possible to get a completely uniform practice. I shall be only too happy to enable local education authorities to obtain any help they may want from my expert advisers. Local authorities have seen the various suggestions made in the Press and elsewhere.

Is it not clear that there is no satisfactory method of selecting children at the age of 11 for different types of secondary education, and would not the right hon. Lady agree that the only right method is to ensure comprehensive schools?

I quite agree that it is very difficult to know exactly the abilities and aptitudes of any child, at a particular age, but I would rather see mistakes made in this scheme than increase the number of comprehensive schools until an experiment has been tried in these schools.

asked the Minister of Education if she has yet received the conclusions of the Secondary Schools Examinations Council, with re gard to the minimum age requirement for sitting for the general certificate of education; and if she will abolish the age requirement for examinations held after 1952.

The Council have not yet completed their review, but I expect to receive their considered recommendations in good time for me to reach a conclusion about the need for any changes in the 1953 examinations.

Is the Minister aware that the imposition of this minimum has caused bewilderment in many quarters? Will she try to ensure, in future, that there is consultation with parents whose plans for the careers of their children are very much affected by considerations of this nature?

I think it is better that I should await the report of the Secondary Schools Examinations Council. When I receive that report I shall then have to decide what is the best step for me to take next.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will appoint a representative of the National Association of Schoolmasters to the Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Committee.

As I have already stated, I see no reason to dissent from the view expressed by my predecessor on this matter in an answer which he gave in this House on 13th July, 1950.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that the numbers of the membership of this Association justify at least one seat on the Burnham Committee? If numbers are not the test, what is?

I have given my view as it is now. I have agreed to receive a deputation from this Association, and if they can put before me any other views that will make me change my mind I shall certainly do so.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the 5 per cent. cut in education costs has resulted in the closing of school swimming baths, the dismissal of qualified swimming teachers, members of the Swimming Teachers' Association, and a serious diminution in facilities for school children learning and practising swimming; and if she will refuse her approval to these proposals and restore full facilities for swimming and other physical training for children.

No, Sir. I know of only one local education authority which proposes to economise in the provision of swimming instruction.

Would the right hon. Lady be so kind as to explain—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."]—and provide deaf aids for some hon. Members on the other side of the House—how this kind of attack upon the educational standards of the people can benefit anybody but banks and moneylenders?

I really do not see the connection between banks and moneylenders; but if the hon. and learned Member will put down a Question about banks and moneylenders, and show how they affect the matter, I shall be very pleased to answer it.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the financial obligations of the Education Act are almost impossible to be borne by the Catholic population; whether negotiations with the various bodies have now been completed; and when an enabling Bill is likely to be introduced by her so as to ease the financial position in regard to Catholic schools.

I can only refer to what I said in reply to the hon. Member for Ardwick (Mr. L. M. Lever) on 28th February last.

Does the right hon. Lady understand the gravity of the present position, which has been in existence for over 12 months? Is it not possible for her to make a statement? On moral grounds alone is not some concession justified? When will the necessary Bill be brought in?

I should like to make a statement as soon as I can. I am having discussions now, but I have not been in charge for 12 months.

asked the Minister of Education if she will make a statement concerning the progress being made in the provision of a school for physically handicapped children in Wales.

I hope that the Glamorgan local education authority will proceed with the purchase of a suitable site and with the planning of the school at an early date.

asked the Minister of Education how many children were in attendance at county primary and county secondary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 1st April, 1951; and how many she estimates will be in attendance on 1st April, 1952.

According to the local education authority's figures, there were 31,605 children in county primary and secondary schools in April, 1951, and there will be 33,671 in April next.

In view of this considerable increase in the number of children, would the Minister not agree that a cut of 5 per cent., as far as the amount spent per child is concerned, would be a cut of considerably more than 5 per cent.?

If the hon. Gentleman will look again at the circular he will see there was no thought of a cut of 5 per cent. on the amount spent per child. Included in that 5 per cent. was further education, recreational and vocational classes, administration, and other things.

asked the Minister of Education what consultations have taken place between her Department and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation regarding the writing of a History of Mankind under the auspices of the organisation.

The project for a History of Mankind has been discussed by the United Kingdom National Com mission which advises me on U.N.E.S.C.O. matters, and the Commission's views upon it have been presented at successive U.N.E.S.C.O. Conferences by the United Kingdom delegations. It is now in the hands of an international body of scholars, established for the purpose, under decisions taken by the General Conference of U.N.E.S.C.O.

Will my right hon. Friend endeavour to see that we have proper British representatives on the subcommittee of U.N.E.S.C.O. which is to deal with this important work—proper in the sense that they subscribe to British traditions and to our national Christian religion?

The appointments to this Committee were made before I had any responsibility for them. If there are any changes, and if I am asked in any way to advise, I will certainly advise having in mind the point of view which my hon. and gallant Friend has put.

Would the right hon. Lady say whether, among the personnel who have been nominated, she considers that anybody differs from what has been suggested?

I think there is a difference of opinion on this matter. I said that if I were asked to advise—and I do not think I shall be asked to do so—I should take into consideration the type of person I believe the British people would like to see on this body. It is not for me to criticise those who have been put on it by many nations with different outlooks. That is not my job.

asked the Minister of Education what contact is maintained by her Department with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and who chooses the United Kingdom members on its publication committees and to conferences sponsored by the organisation.

Close contact with U.N.E.S.C.O. is maintained by my Department on behalf of the Government. The arrangements for the representation of the United Kingdom on committees and conferences vary with the circumstances, but United Kingdom members are usually appointed by the Minister or after consultation with the Minister.

asked the Minister of Education how many taxis are employed for the purpose of taking children to school in England and Wales; how many children of nine years and over are transported to school by taxi; what is the average distance of transportation; and how many cases there are of one or two children only, of nine years and over, being transported by one taxi.

I regret that the information is not available.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me why this information is not available to her, in view of the fact that I have already had it, so far as my own area in Norfolk is concerned, from the Norfolk education authority, on request from me, in a week? This Question has been on the Order Paper for over a month.

It is not available because I did not inquire from the 146 local authorities who are responsible for dealing with transport. They know the statutory regulations. In Circular 242 I have asked for economies to be made, where possible, in transport, and when I see the estimates of the authorities in April I hope to find that economies have been made.

asked the Minister of Education whether Her Majesty's Inspector, while investigating the cases of Margaret Harris and Linda Yates, who were removed by their parents from Walton Hall Special School, took steps to see the parents in question in order to hear direct their allegations of cruelty before he reported completely favourably on this school.

No, Sir. It is the duty of Her Majesty's Inspectors to report to me on the conduct and efficiency of schools. It is not one of their duties to interview parents who have complaints to make against a school; this is a matter for the school authorities. Her Majesty's Inspector was, however, aware of the allegations made against the school before she sent me her last report.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the local authority have held a special meeting to discuss these allegations and that they again came to the conclusion that there is no basis for these allegations? Is the right hon. Lady aware that some of the parents have been to see me and have maintained that their children have been cruelly treated? Is it not absolutely desirable, since her Department threatens to take action against these parents, that she should comply with the request I make? Is there not some duty on her Department to see that the parents are questioned?

As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, members of the authority have met again—in any event, in the last three weeks—and have interviewed the parents. The hon. Gentleman has now been asked whether he will go to the school to see the authorities there and to make any inquiries he likes. I believe that if he looks into this matter he may have more confidence in the arrangements at the school than he has at present. If he would do that, I should be only too willing to discuss the problem with him, either now or after his visit.

Is the right hon. Lady not aware that many people, including myself, do not consider themselves competent to judge whether a school is well run or not? Is she further aware that I have received a third complaint about this school? Will she please look into the matter?

I quite agree that many of us may not be competent, as the hon. Member says, to find out whether a school is run on the right lines or not. That is why we have the report of Her Majesty's Inspector. She visited the school, which she has known for a number of years—this is not the first occasion on which she has visited it—and afterwards made a report about it.

asked the Minister of Education if she will now make a statement on the guidance she proposes to give local education authorities concerning their university awards.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued last week in which I gave local authorities all the information I could at this stage.

Could the right hon. Lady tell the House whether there is to be any reduction in the number of local authority awards and whether she is taking steps to improve the number of awards which are being made by authorities such as Leeds, who issue one per 10,000 of the population, and Birmingham, Hampshire, Somerset, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, who are all well below the national average? May the House be told what is the position in this matter?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the information he has given to me. If he will look at the circular I think he will find that the point he mentions is met satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Education if she will exempt from the general slow down in building the proposed new school at Bromyard Avenue, Acton, in view of the serious shortage of school places in the borough.

This project remains in the Middlesex authority's building programme for 1952–53.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that in the next year or two there will be a shortage of at least 800 school places in the borough and that unless some degree of priority is given to this school within that time a great many hundreds of children will not be able to gain admission to other schools?

All I can say is that the school is included in the building programme. I will certainly watch the position because we all agree that we want these places to be provided at the right time.

Is my right hon. Friend aware, and does she not agree, that the position is Acton is no worse than, and probably not so bad as, that in other parts of Middlesex?

All I am anxious to do is to see that the school building programme is carried out and that we have the places for the children who are to be taught.

asked the Minister of Education in view of the closing of the Hornsey Grammar School, what arrangements have been made for the accommodation of the pupils there; and how many grammar school places have been lost as a consequence.

Final arrangements have not yet been made, but 133 pupils have been offered a choice of other schools in Hornsey and adjoining areas. On the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 21st February last.

Does the right hon. Lady know that the closing of this school will result in a great inconvenience to a large number of children?

asked the Minister of Education the outcome of her further inquiries regarding the proposals made by Salop Education Committee for the closing of four out of their total of six nursery schools.

I am not yet able to give any information.

Would the right hon. Lady say whether the words contained in Circular 242 of December to local authorities—

"The Minister does not expect reductions which would impair the essential fabric of the service"—

I have already said, and I have already informed local authorities, that I could not approve any indiscriminate closing of nursery schools. Each case must be considered to see the purpose which the school is serving. Above all, we must consider cases where children are attending nursery schools while their mothers are working.

asked the Minister of Education if she will increase the grants to university students, in view of the rising cost of living.

New standard figures of maintenance will come into use next autumn for awards to university students made by my Department.

Is the Minister aware that, owing to the vast number of circulars that have been issued, and the mass of statements of the most ambiguous nature, many working-class parents are reluctant to get their children to accept university places when they are offered to them?

I cannot think that in the four months that I have been Minister of Education there has been such an enormous number of circulars. There have been a few, and they have been so much discussed by hon. Members and by the Press that, I think, everyone must know some of the things that are in them; and I think that the hon. Gentleman is now finding some of the things that are not in them.

asked the Minister of Education what plans she has in mind for increasing the number of certificated school teachers so that the size of classes may be reduced; and how she proposes to deal with the growing shortage in mathematical and science teachers.

My plans provide for an increase in the number of teachers employed in primary and secondary schools at the rate of between 3,000 and 4,000 a year, but during the next few years the school roll will be increasing so rapidly that this increase will not suffice for any general reduction in the size of classes.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that school teachers are human like the rest of us, that they want to marry and breed like the rest of us, and that the crux of the whole problem is an adequate salary, which they have not ever had?

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the fact that she recognises a married student's parents-in-law in order to pay him a reduced grant, she will amend her training of teachers' grant regulations, in order to recognise his marriage for grant purposes.

No, Sir. It seems to me reasonable to pay maintenance grant at one rate to students living with parents, relatives or friends, and at a higher rate for those who are living in a college hostel or in lodgings run on a business footing. While this principle is applied to students generally, I could not properly make an exception in the case which the hon. Member has in mind just because the student is married.

Will the right hon. Lady not look again at this case? It seems clear that if this student was living at the same address, unmarried, he would be receiving a grant of £215, but because the Minister is not able to make him a marriage grant on behalf of his wife and family it seems very unreasonable that his grant should be reduced by £50 because the people he is living with are his relations-in-law. Does the right hon. Lady really think that a married man, his wife and child can subsist on £165 a year and also pay the necessary expenses for his college education?

If the hon. Gentleman will read the answer I have given, I think he will find that it meets all the points he has put in his supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Education if she is now in a position to state the numbers of classes of over 40 and over 50 pupils, respectively, in January, 1952.

No, Sir.

When will the information be available?

Not yet. I said that I did not know.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of children aged five years and over, in the school population in January in each of the years from 1946 to 1952 inclusive; and her estimates of the numbers for 1953 and 1954.

As the answer consists of a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Education if she will state, separately, the numbers of additional school places which were required for the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years and the number of other additional school places estimated to be required between 1945 and 1953, owing to the increasing size of the school population.

It is estimated that the increasing school roll and the movement of families to new homes require by the end of 1953 1,150,000 additional school places, of which about 160,000 were needed for the raising of the school leaving age.

Will the Minister consult the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has more than once given an estimate that the number of places required by the end of 1953 is 1,450,000? Can we have an authoritative statement from the Government as to which of these estimates is correct?

I think perhaps that it would be a good thing if I gave that correction. I think the hon. Gentleman, when speaking in a debate lately, said that the right hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson) had given the number at 1,450,000. We know now that he was wrong, for it has been looked up in HANSARD. My predecessor gave the number required as 1,150,000, and gave the dates as being from 1947 to 1953. In the same debate—on 4th May, 1950—the present Chancellor of the Exchequer estimated the number at 1,450,000, but he did not state whether this figure related to the time from immediately after the war, or to the same period as that to which the right hon. Member for Farnworth referred. I have taken the estimate of my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Farnworth, and it is that on which I am now working.

asked the Minister of Education what was the total cost for the last convenient 12 months of running the divisional education executive committees in Kent.

£186,700 was the estimated figure for 1951–52.

Is a local authority empowered to abolish a divisional executive in a place where it may think that the expenditure is excessive or where the divisional executive may appear to be, as it were, a fifth wheel on the coach—interposed between the school governors and the county education officer?

A local authority has power to reduce the number of divisional executives if it finds that money is being spent and it is not getting value for it. At the same time, as in the case of the nursery schools, I could not agree to the indiscriminate abolishing of the executives. We must look at each one individually, and judge it individually, in the same way as we do the nursery schools.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her reply is somewhat misleading, because figures have been worked out in Kent to show how much each executive costs in administration—which is the point, I think, of the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Arbuthnot)—and they show that there are 17 divisional executives costing £300 a year each.

The figure I gave includes salaries, wages, office accommodation, printing, stationery, postage, travelling, statistical and other expenses, but not the cost of inspection or any establishment charges against the education service for the services of other departments of the authority.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities do not economise by cutting down the school dental services.

I have made my policy clear in Circular 242 and I have no reason to think that further steps are required.

Is the right hon. Lady not aware that, although she has asked local authorities to make a cut of 5 per cent., and although she has asked that the essential fabric of education shall not be impaired, the various answers she has given to Questions this afternoon show that in fact she has no real power to ensure that those essential services are not impaired?

I do not quite know what the question is, but perhaps I might answer the inferred question, "Have I any power?" My answer to that would be "Yes," and I have already exercised it in connection with some nursery schools in certain areas. I have not yet received the estimates of the local authorities, but I shall receive them, I think, in April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he proposes to bring to the attention of the House the reports of the official observers sent to Bechuanaland; and what action he proposes to take as a result of these reports.

The reports were published in a White Paper on 6th December, 1951. They were taken into consideration by Her Majesty's Government in coming to the decision concerning Tshekedi Khama announced in the House on the same day.

The Question refers to bringing the matter to the attention of the House. Does the Under-Secretary not agree that it is urgently necessary for him, in conjunction with the Leader of the House, to bring these problems before the House for discussion so that they can be discussed in relation to the adjacent territories which will shortly be the subject of an important conference in London?

I will bring the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary question to the attention of the Leader of the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the composition of the group studying Commonwealth development; and when it is expected that it will report.

No doubt the hon. Member is referring to the Working Party on Development set up by the Commonwealth Finance Ministers, which met under my chairmanship. The Working Party consisted of officials of Commonwealth Governments; it has, on the completion of a first series of meetings, submitted an interim report for the consideration of Commonwealth Governments.

Do I understand, then, that this is the only joint body which is keeping the financial state of the Commonwealth under review; that it has now ceased to sit; and that there is now no body charged with the duty of keeping these financial considerations under review?

There were two bodies set up under the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference and those bodies will sit again when some of the results of the interim report have been communicated back to the Working Party.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations with which of the Commonwealth Governments there are no agreements for the enforcing by them of maintenance orders made by United Kingdom courts; whether he is aware of the hardship caused to wives of emigrants whose maintenance orders cannot be enforced; and what steps he proposes to take to try to give them a remedy.

The only territories of members of the Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom to which the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, has not been extended by Order in Council are the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick and those parts of India and Pakistan which were not formerly part of British India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will consult the members of the Commonwealth as to the means by which increased facilities can be made available for emigration from this country.

There is constant consultation with the High Commissioners in London concerned and it has not been brought to my notice that existing facilities are inadequate. We are always ready to co-operate in dealing with any difficulties that may arise.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the feeling of hon. Members in all parts of the House that this type of proposal is the only ultimate solution to the economic stability of this country and the political stability of the Commonwealth; and that for years Govern ments of all complexions have failed to tackle the situation adequately?

My noble Friend has taken note of that feeling.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will consult the Postmaster-General and representatives of members of the Commonwealth on the advisability of broadcasting a Commonwealth programme at regular intervals in order that its achievements and objects may be more widely known throughout the world.

While I sympathise with the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind, he will realise that, while there are many bonds within the Commonwealth and its members share in many respects a common outlook, the members are independent countries, each with its own aims and policies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have been made for the United Kingdom Government to participate in the Van Riebeeck Tercentenary Celebrations in South Africa.

Included in the Van Riebeeck Tercentenary Celebrations to which the hon. Member refers, a Festival Fair will be held in Cape Town from 14th March to 5th April. The United Kingdom will have a Pavilion illustrating the contributions made by this country to the development of South Africa over the last 300 years.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that since the decision was taken to hold these tercentenary celebrations various non-European organisations in South Africa have decided to use the occasion for organised protests against the racial policy at present pursued by the Government of South Africa? Can he assure the House that nothing will be done by those responsible for United Kingdom participation which would imply, directly or indirectly, any approval of racial policies which are repugnant to many people in this country?

Participation does not imply the holding of any views by Her Majesty's Government on the party politics or internal policy of the Union. Her Majesty's Government are very glad to be able to take part in these celebrations.

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that the person chosen to open the United Kingdom Pavilion in Cape Town will not be the right hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes)?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the substantial decline, during the period September, 1950, to September, 1951, in acreage in the United Kingdom devoted to vegetable production for human consumption; what are the reasons for this decline and what steps are in hand to prevent the position deteriorating further.

I am aware of the decline to which my hon. Friend refers. Large fluctuations in the vegetable acreage are not uncommon. The exceptionally low acreage of 1951 was probably due partly to the wet spring of 1951 which delayed planting and partly to heavy supplies and consequent low prices in 1950. Prices were steadier in 1951 and I should expect some recovery in acreage in the course of this year.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that the recovery to which he refers will yield a total acreage of output that is approximately equal to the anticipated demand without imports?

Horticulture as a whole is included in a survey of the problems of agriculture upon which the Government are at present engaged. I am not yet ready to make a general statement on that subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what measures are contemplated further to increase the pig population of the United Kingdom in 1952.

The only important obstacle to further increases in pig numbers is the supply of feedingstuffs. I can hold out no hopes of increased imports, but we are doing all we can to encourage farmers to grow more coarse grains and other suitable feedingstuffs, such as fodder beet in this country. I hope the introduction of grants for ploughing up old grassland will help.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend reconsider the position of the owner and rearer of pigs—that is, the man who is rearing pigs for his own consumption and that of his family—who is often scared off by the complexity of the slaughtering regulations?

We are always considering this problem, but I say again that it revolves round the amount of feeding-stuffs available. There is no regulation to prevent a householder from rearing pigs, provided he complies with the bye-laws in force in his locality and is not using rationed feedingstuffs. The householder, however, must obtain a licence for the pig to be killed from the Ministry of Food and comply with the conditions of slaughter.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that one of the difficulties is not only the amount of pig feedingstuff available but the price which is now being charged for it?

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the complexity to which I refer is specifically this licence of the Ministry of Food to kill, and that that is the principle deterrent? We could get a lot more pigs if my right hon. and gallant Friend would relax the regulation.

Yes, Sir, but we must be very careful in amending particular regulations not to cause further hardship in other directions. The real problem is the amount of feedingstuffs available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average acreage devoted to fruit production in the United Kingdom during 1951; the estimated average acreage in 1952; and what measures are contemplated to offset the reduction of fruit imports from Western Europe and elsewhere during 1952.

The total area in the United Kingdom returned at 4th June. 1951, as occupied by fruit grown primarily for sale was 331,671 acres. The corresponding forecast for 4th June, 1952, is 333,000 acres but this is subject to a wide margin of error. New plantings made in 1951 would bear no fruit in 1952, but the National Agricultural Advisory Service are always ready to advise growers on means of increasing the productivity of existing plantings.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend answer the second part of the Question which deals specifically with the measures contemplated to offset reductions of European fruit imports?

I attempted to answer that by saying that the National Agricultural Advisory Service are always available to try to help growers and to show them ways and means of increasing their productivity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will encourage members of food production clubs and allotment societies to increase production by making a contribution towards the cost of fertilisers purchased in bulk by clubs and societies.

It is intended that schemes made under the Agricultural (Fertilisers) Bill, now before Parliament, shall provide for the making of contributions towards the cost of fertilisers acquired by associations of allotment holders or smallholders which buy fertilisers in bulk for re-distribution to their members. Food production clubs if their members occupy private gardens (which are not agricultural land) are not covered by the Bill.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take into consideration notifying the various societies of the concession that he has made, perhaps due to pressure from this side of the House?

I will take note of what the hon. Member says.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has now come to any decision to deal with the problem of sheep-worrying by dogs.

I am having further consultations about this problem with the interests concerned and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

Is the Minister aware that the N.F.U. have made some very sensible and practical suggestions, and will he do something about them, because this matter has been held up for a considerable time?