asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what special arrangements are made to ensure the suitable employment of Northern Rhodesia Africans who qualify in the legal and other professions.

I have asked the Governor what particular steps have been taken, following the Report of the local Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice which advised on entry into and training for the legal profession. I will write to the hon. Member when I have the Governor's reply.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer and ask whether he does not agree that for the cause of African advancement, it is vital that those Africans who qualify for the professions should be given every help and encouragement? If I send my right hon. Friend details of a personal case which is rather disturbing, will he look into it?

I certainly agree about the importance of this matter and I will be glad to look into any personal case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to announce the details of the new Northern Rhodesia Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now state his constitutional proposals for Northern Rhodesia.

I hope to make a statement soon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is a most disappointing reply? Has his attention been drawn to the leading article in The Times today, headed "No more delay", which makes the very valid point that

"Every day's delay now darkens the prospect"?

Cannot we have an announcement soon?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the longer this goes on the more it seems likely that Sir Roy Welensky's pressure is being successful? What does he mean by "soon"?

I read The Times leading article first thing this morning, as I always do, but I cannot say more than that I hope to make a statement soon. I agree that the sooner it is made, the better, but "soon" is "soon" and I cannot define it in terms of days.

The Opposition have been extremely patient about this. Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that delays are now reaching the stage of being positively dangerous? Cannot he assure the House that he will make a statement during the coming week?

I should like to state an exact time, but I cannot do so at present. I appreciate what the hon. Gentleman has said. As I have said before, I recognise the need for an early announcement, but I am anxious to get the right announcement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the dreary defeatism of the leading article will find little echo in this country?

It is one thing to read The Times: it is another thing to comment on it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman anything to say about the general suspicion that he wrote the leading article as well as read it?

Internal evidence is against that, because my standards of English are not adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent murder, other crimes of violence, and crimes involving witchcraft have increased in Nyasaland during the last year, or in the latest convenient period; and whether he will make a statement about law and order in the Protectorate.

There was a slight increase in these crimes between 1960 and 1961. I am circulating comparative statistics in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The Protectorate generally is orderly, and the increase is attributable to increased police coverage in rural areas rather than to any significant deterioration in law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the circumstances which led to the recent resignation of Chief Masula of the Lilongwe District in the Central Province of Nyasaland.

Chief Masula resigned because he was no longer acceptable as Chief to his people and hence could not effectively administer his area.

While recognising my right hon. Friend's reply, may I ask whether it is not the fact that chieftainships in Nyasaland and in other parts are by the consent of the people and that it is implicit that the chiefs rule by the agreement of their people? Is not it also the fact that in this case this Chief, who had objected to the Malawi Congress Party at the Lancaster House Conference, was shortly thereafter subjected to public humiliation which created circumstances that caused him to resign? As Nyasaland is under the protection of the Crown, is it not the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government to see that the system of chieftainship and the maintenance of chiefs is protected? Will my right hon. Friend take steps to do whatever he can to see that the chiefs who are at present opposing the Malawi Party are not coerced to a point where they are humiliated and lose the confidence of their people?

I should like to look into the point about humiliation. I am not altogether happy about the position of chiefs in Nyasaland. My hon. and gallant Friend is quite right—unless they retain the support of their own people they cannot effectively carry out their duties as chiefs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of cases of ritual murder that have occurred in Nyasaland during the past twelve months.

There have been two cases of so-called ritual murder in the past twelve months. I have asked the Governor for particulars and will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT later.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he agrees that these reports are extremely disturbing, and that, despite what he has said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison), these are illustrations of the danger of allowing primitive people premature self-government?

I should not like to draw any deductions from these two particular cases until I have had the details for which I have asked.

Did the hon. Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson) refer to murders in this country, which are rather frequent, or in other countries?

Is it not time that tribute was paid to the high standard of law and order maintained in Nyasaland at the present time?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that supplementary question. I did say earlier that the present state of law and order in Nyasaland is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the constitutional future of Nyasaland.

I have nothing to say at present, except that the Constitution which was introduced last summer is working well. Steps are now being taken, in accordance with the White Paper of August, 1960, to replace the two nominated official members who sit in the Executive Council by elected members.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Dr. Banda is alleged to have said on numerous occasions that he wishes Nyasaland to secede? Will my right hon. Friend tell the House whether secession is constitutionally possible?

I think that questions of constitutional changes in the Federation are more for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations than for me, but certainly Dr. Banda has made it absolutely clear that his policy is secession, and it was on that policy that he was elected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the combined gross domestic product of the Colonial Territories for 1960; and what annual rate of increase this represents.

The gross domestic product, in 1960, for the Territories for which I am today responsible is estimated at £2,075 million. This represents an annual average rate of increase of about 5½ per cent. over the last five years. Allowing for changes in prices, on the basis of information available for the majority of the Territories, the rate of increase was about 5 per cent.

Is this not a little less than before, when the figure was something like 7 per cent.? What steps are being taken to try to retain the rate of increase?

It is certainly a little less than before, but it is difficult to draw deductions from that fact. Of course, a number of Territories, such as Cyprus and Nigeria, have moved out of the sphere on which statistics are based. I do not think that deductions can be drawn from the figures.

Does not that rate of increase compare favourably with the sad rate of increase in this country last year?

I anticipated that supplementary question, but the answer is one for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has made to President Kennedy about the effect of his proposal, that the United States of America should purchase all its sugar on the free world market, on Commonwealth sugar producing countries, especially the West Indies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has made to the United States of America over their proposed new sugar purchasing policy, particularly as it affects the West Indies.

We are in consultation with the American authorities, to whom we have explained the great importance of these markets to the West Indies.

Will my right hon. Friend give the House some assurance that he will leave President Kennedy in no doubt that if this policy were carried out, it would bankrupt the sugar industry in the whole of the West Indian islands, and particularly in Jamaica, where wage standards are highest; and that this is bound to bring about unemployment on a massive scale and cause economic unrest which would be far from offset by the advantages which the State Department considers its policy might bring?

I would not go the whole way with my hon. Friend about the consequences of the policy. Certainly, it raises a very serious problem for the West Indies, as we have explained quite clearly to the United States authorities, and we are in consultation with them about the problem.

Is the Minister aware that since my Question was put down, it has been revealed that the American Government have stopped all purchases of sugar from Jamaica for the next six months and are preparing long-term barter deals of wheat for sugar, particularly from South American countries? In view of the catastrophe which Jamaica faces, and the fact that she buys £30 million worth of British manufactured goods in a year, is he aware that the economic future of Jamaica cannot be a matter of indifference to Her Majesty's Government?

Of course, it is not a matter of indifference. As I said in my original reply, we have explained to the Americans the great importance of this problem to the West Indies, and we are consulting them about it. I do not see what else we can do about it at the moment.

My right hon. Friend has said that he cannot go the whole way with me in the views expressed in my supplementary question, which are certainly shared by everybody in the West Indies. Will he say why?

Because I do not think they are fully shared by everybody in the sugar industry. I think the effect of the policy would be serious to Jamaica, but my hon. Friend thought it would bankrupt the industry, and I thought that in that he was going a little too far.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the representations made to America are made at the highest level? Is he aware that if the Americans persist in this policy, it will more than cancel out all the economic aid which Her Majesty's Government are giving at present to the West Indies?

Certainly. We are ensuring that. From the start we asked our Ambassador in Washington to represent the position to the State Department, but we cannot do more at this moment than consult with the State Department and explain to them the effect of their policy. I agree—as I was myself in the West Indies recently—that these effects can be very serious for the West Indies, unless a proper solution can be found, and our concern at the moment with the Americans is to find a solution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total financial help given to Malta in 1961, both as part of the Development Plan and otherwise.

Malta's financial year commences on 1st April and figures relating to the calendar year are not available. The total for the financial year ended 31st March, 1961, was £4·05 million, of which £3·3 million was for development. The latest estimated total for the year ending 31st March, 1962, is £3·12 million, of which £2·7 million is for development. These figures exclude sums advanced to Messrs. Bailey (Malta) Ltd. in connection with the conversion of the Dockyard.

Now that the election is over and it looks as though there will be a more stable political future for Malta—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—will this aid be reconsidered?

Any question of future aid will have to be discussed when the new Malta Government is constituted, which I hope will be soon.

Did I hear the right hon. Gentleman aright—that the aid during the coming financial year will be lower than the rate of aid last year? Is not this going quite the wrong way about it?

The rate in the current financial year is slightly below, but not very much below, the rate for the preceding year. These year to year comparisons tend, however, to be a little misleading. One cannot draw too much of a deduction from them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an assurance that the level of employment in Malta Dockyard will be maintained during development work.

The contract work is planned so as to involve the minimum dislocation to the yard but I cannot guarantee that there will be no fluctuations of the employment level during this period. I know, however, that the company has this aspect very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the extent to which Bailey (Malta) Limited may use its own direct labour on the Dockyard Development Plan.

The company may undertake with its own labour the work of modifying the fixed assets and services of the Dockyard up to a present limit of £650,000. The company may also use its own labour in the manufacture and installation of plant and equipment, but in the case of items costing over £2,500 only if tenders have been invited and the company's is the lowest.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, and bearing in mind that while the redevelopment plan is in progress there are bound to be one or more docks out of action from time to time, may I ask whether he would not be well advised to increase this limit of £2,500 so that if men are put off from working on ships, at least they can be employed on the development programme?

The figure is the result of pretty lengthy negotiations with the company. Different principles are involved here, but I think that we have reached the right figure. If things involve more than £2,500 there should be a tender to ensure that prices are appropriate.

Should it not be the overriding consideration during this redevelopment work that as many jobs as possible should be provided for the workers in Malta?

Yes, Sir, but on the other hand one should make sure that charges for work done are reasonable.

Has the employment position improved or become worse since Messrs. Bailey changed over from the naval dockyard to the commercial dockyard?

I should need notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for the revised Constitution of Swaziland will be announced.

The Report of the Swaziland Constitutional Committee raised a number of issues requiring further consideration on which I am consulting the High Commissioner. I have in the meantime asked the High Commissioner to arrange for publication, both of the Report and of a Dispatch setting out my own views, so as to facilitate public discussion of these issues in Swaziland before decisions are taken about the new Constitution.

While welcoming that expression of democracy, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could say when these documents are likely to be published? In the consideration of future plans, will the right hon. Gentleman include the extension of some voting rights to the African population and ensure that in the Legislature the proportions of African and European representatives are in accordance with the population?

I think that there is here a little jumping the gun. I hope to have the report and the dispatch published in the near future. I cannot give the exact date. Then I should like to see a good deal of public discussion in Swaziland of the merits of the various problems before we start crystallising our ideas.

Will the documents be available to hon. Members?

I will certainly see that they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will reconsider the position of non-designated civil servants in Kenya, with a view to giving them the protection and conditions of service which obtain for designated civil servants.

I have nothing to add to the Reply made by the Prime Minister on 20th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) concerning the future of non-designated officers serving in Kenya on overseas leave terms.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the non-designated men were recruited overseas in exactly the same way as some of the designated men who became designated as a result of the Lidbury revision? Is he aware that the differentiation which he makes in the conditions of service, and in protection if Kenya becomes independent, as between designated and non-designated men, when both are doing exactly the same job, is regarded by the non-designated men as an injustice and a breach of faith and of promises made in documents which they have already submitted to the right hon. Gentleman?

I cannot accept that there has been any breach of faith. This problem has given me a great deal of concern, but there is a clear distinction between people recruited for service in the Overseas Civil Service generally, that is, in the overseas Territories as a whole, and people recruited by a particular Government for service in that particular Territory. That is the basis of the distinction and I think that it is valid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he received a petition from the Civil Service Association of Kenya about protection of the rights and interests of overseas pensionable officers who have been appointed to the service of territorial Governments other than by the selection of the Secretry of State; and if he will make a statement on the reply he sent.

The petition from the Civil Service Association of Kenya to which the hon. Member refers was received in my Department only on 7th February.

I have nothing to add to the Reply given by the Prime Minister on 20th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) about another petition in the same terms which the Prime Minister has received from the same body.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the discrimination shown between the designated and non-designated men is creating bad feeling in Kenya? Is he aware that every effort has been made in that Colony to try to bring about a settlement and that the efforts have failed? Does the right hon. Gentleman know, for example, that there is a schoolmaster who receives approximately £1,000 a year while men working under him, who are designated, receive nearly £2,000? Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to remedy that sitution?

I shall be dealing with that matter in answer to the next Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that designated officers of the Kenya Civil Service receive in pay and emoluments more than twice the amount paid annually to non-designated officers who perform the same class of duty, that Asian schoolmasters who are not designated have serving under them designated officers with higher pay, and that this fact creates uneasiness among civil servants; if he will take steps to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.

Basic salaries in Kenya are common to all serving officers. They were fixed last year on the basis of the Report of the Flemming Commission. Designated officers receive in addition an inducement allowance of about 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. of basic salary, plus education allowances and leave passages, all paid for by Her Majesty's Government under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. This makes it possible for some junior officers, if designated, to receive more than some senior officers, if they are not designated. These arrangements were approved by the House when it passed the Overseas Service Act in 1961.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a Press release by the Ministry in 1960 an undertaking was given about the position of non-designated men but apparently it has not been carried out? What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do about it?

I am not aware of that Press release. If the hon. Member will kindly send it to me, I will certainly study it to ensure that nothing has been done which is inconsistent with what we have said in the past.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the replies which the Prime Minister gave to representations made to him earlier this week seem much more sympathetic than what the right hon. Gentleman has said today? Will he look carefully into the position as put to him by these men?

I have looked into it closely. I have received deputations and I have been concerned about the matter. After seeing the deputations, I have recommended certain courses to the Governments of these Territories. If they do not accept my representations there is nothing I can do about it, because it is their responsibility to decide what the settlement should be.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that in the talks which be had with the staff association in November he agreed that if there should be a major change in the situation—and this action by these Governments is a major change—he would reconvene that conference?

I shall have to look at the record, but I do not recall giving any such undertaking. I think that I have made it clear that, whatever I think to be the right thing, the final decision does not rest with me but with the Governments of the Territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress made in the Kenya Constitutional Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the progress of the Constitutional Conference on Kenya.

Press communiqués agreed by the Conference are being issued at the end of each working day, copies of which I am arranging to be placed in the Library. I have nothing further to add about progress at the Conference.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of bringing this Conference to an end as quickly as possible and agreeing to an early date for independence, bearing in mind that the longer the period of uncertainty lasts, the greater is the danger of "funk" money leaving the country and of a general economic rundown?

I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman means by "funk" money. Our purpose at the Conference is to reach agreement on the Constitution. I regard that as being of absolutely fundamental importance and urgency.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at least bear in mind the possibility that he will have to impose a decision if a breakdown takes place?

If there cannot be agreement between the parties, then Her Majesty's Government will have to decide on the future. My object now is to reach agreement at the Conference, which is of tremendous importance to everyone who lives in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that large sums of money are being sent to Kenya from Communist countries for subversive purposes; and what steps he proposes taking to put an end to this threat to the security of Kenya.

I have seen persistent reports to this effect. But there is no legal ban on gifts of money entering Kenya and it is difficult to see how one could be made effective.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it ridiculous that, while the Government and many others from Kenya are doing their best to reach some political solution for the troubles, money should be allowed into Kenya for the express purpose of making that impossible? Has he not heard or read of the recent statement by Mr. Odinga, who even suggested that there was nothing much wrong in Communism for Africa?

I cannot comment on individual statements, particularly if they are made in the Constitutional Conference, which is confidential at present. I do not see how we could take legal powers to stop money going into Kenya from Communist sources. It might well come through Britain itself or through other third countries.

While far from condoning any Communist interference in Kenya's affairs—if such be the case—so that we may see the whole picture, will right hon. Gentleman, if he makes an inquiry, inform the House about the vast sums of money being sent to Kenya to certain principal persons in the Government party, of which Her Majesty's Government are well aware, as I am?

One cannot prevent gifts of money going into Kenya, from whatever source, to individuals there. I know of no legal way to stop it. But I share my hon. Friend's concern at the development of Communist propaganda in this part of Africa. It is a growing difficulty which we must be prepared to face.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the best way to ensure that the Communists waste their money is to have a speedy and successful conclusion to the Constitutional Conference at Lancaster House?

I entirely agree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report of the inquiry into certain disturbances affecting schools and colleges in Aden will be completed and published; whether a committee of managers or a board of governors is appointed for all educational institutions in Aden, and on what basis; and what has been done to establish parent-teacher organisations in primary and secondary schools.

The report is now being published and I will place a copy in the Library of the House. The answer to the second part is: not for Government schools. Parents' committees exist for Government boys' primary and intermediate schools.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he does not agree that it is highly desirable that indigenous Adenese should themselves be involved in responsibility for schools to which their children are going, and that this should be done not only by securing the maximum number of indigenous Adenese on various governing bodies and school committees but also by encouraging the formation of these teacher-parent associations?

I would rather study the report—I have not as yet had a chance to do so—before committing myself on the policies involved. I am very interested in what the hon. Gentleman has suggested.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any further information about these disturbances? Is he aware that, following the strike of the girls at a girls' college in Aden, messages have been received from the Aden T.U.C. saying that there have been clashes with the police and that tanks have been brought into the streets? What are the facts about this situation?

I think that those statements are probably a little exaggerated. I doubt if tanks have been needed to suppress rebelling students. In particular, the story that the director of education was beaten up and his car was burnt is quite inaccurate. I do not think that it is for me to deny rumours of one kind or another. As I have said, I will place in the Library a copy of the report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the talks between the Governor of Aden and Ministers from the Federation and Colony; what decisions have been made about accessions to and secessions from the Federation, and closer association between the Protectorates and Aden Colony; and what conditions have been submitted in respect of such closer association by elected representatives in Aden Colony.

Reasonable progress has been made, considering the complexity of the problems involved. The Wahidi Sultanate recently applied to join the Federation. There have been no secessions. The answer to the last two parts of the Question is: None so far.

Whilst one appreciates the complexity of the situation, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would agree that there is a good deal of ambiguity about the whole question? One is not quite certain what is required or demanded by the various parties involved. Could he clarify the matter and determine whether there is a genuine desire to link up with the Federation or not?

The Governor, in a speech on 22nd January, said:

"Her Majesty's Government consider that there are great advantages for both Colony and Federation in a much closer link between them."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what estimate he has made of the effect upon the economy of Nyasaland of the secession of that territory from the Central African Federation and the withdrawal of the subventions at present paid by the Federal Government.

The financial and economic problems that would arise were Nyasaland to withdraw from the Federation are considerable. They were set out in general terms in paragraphs 57–59 of the Monckton Commission Report.

Has not my right hon. Friend some accurate estimate? Surely, before the Monckton Commission recommended the possibility of secession, it must have had an estimate put before it? Could he say if this could be made available to the House.

I doubt if we could add at all to what the Monckton Commission said. We can give certain figures of the amount of revenue received by Nyasaland from the Federation, but the economic effects of secession would be widespread. I do not think it is easy to estimate in exact terms, and I do not think we can add further to what the Monckton Commission has said.

Will the Minister bear in mind as a precedent that, when Jamaica expressed a desire to secede from the West Indian Federation, we did not allow the economic costs of this to be the deciding factor?

There is the difference that Jamaica is standing on her own feet, financially.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations there have been with Nyasaland and Barotseland about their future constitutional arrangements in connection with the future of federation in Central Africa.

The future constitutional position of Nyasaland and Barotseland was a subject of discussion during my visit to Central Africa last December. The Litunga's views have been invited on the way in which the new constitutional arrangements for Northern Rhodesia should be applied to Barotseland, and his reply is awaited.

Is the Minister aware that the ill-judged visit by his right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Relations Secretary to Barotseland during the present week has complicated an already difficult situation? Can he give the House some enlightenment as to the nature of his right hon. Friend's talks, since the constitutional future of Barotseland itself is the Colonial Secretary's responsibility?

I do not think the hon. Member should confuse ill-judged rumours with ill-judged visits. So far as my right hon. Friend's visit is concerned, there is a further Question on the Order Paper later today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what aspects of West Indian economic development Her Majesty's Government is at present tendering advice to West Indian authorities.

On the request of the West Indian authorities concerned, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, and I are always ready to advise them on any aspect of economic development in our respective spheres.

Is the Minister aware that no permanent, long-term, political solution can be found for the West Indies until the problems of economic development have been solved, and that if we want to salvage a viable, politically purposeful Federation, we must tackle her economic problems immediately and purposefully?

There is a great deal to be said for that point of view.

In the event of the proposed measures not succeeding, and in the event of the representations which the Government have made to the United States of America—which the right hon. Gentleman told us about in a previous Answer—also failing, would he then advise his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to withdraw the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill?

It is difficult to imagine a more hypothetical question.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider including the teaching of modern languages in the curriculum of primary education.

I welcome the experiments that are being made in primary schools and I am encouraging developments of this kind where suitable teachers are available.

Will my hon. Friend agree that our lack of ability to speak foreign languages, compared with the ability of people in most other countries, is a most serious handicap in the export drive? Would he also agree that —at any rate as far as speech as opposed to writing is concerned—the earlier one starts to learn a foreign language the better, and will he do all in his power to encourage the present experiments?

In general, I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend, but I have no control over the curriculum. It is clear that the prospect of entry into the Common Market is stimulating foreign language studies and teaching.

asked the Minister of Education what were the main faults in the 1,397 applicants failing for training college places in September, 1961, whose academic qualifications were adequate but who were considered borderline by the Clearing House; and what steps have been taken to encourage these students to remedy their weaknesses and to secure for them places in 1962.

Five hundred wanted to train for secondary schools when priority has had to be given to good candidates for primary schools. Among the rest the most common defect was, I understand, weakness in English. Colleges and schools normally encourage reasonably promising candidates to remedy their weaknesses and are ready to advise them how to do so, but competition for places is becoming increasingly keen.

This is a confession of failure. If these students are available, steps should be taken to ensure that they are given places. Would not the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements to earmark places for September, 1962, for those candidates who bring themselves up to scratch, and could he ask the local education authorities to take a special interest in this type of student so that they can come forward in 1962?

The hon. Gentleman may be glad to know that of the borderline cases in 1960–61 who did not get a place then, 200 have secured a place in 1961–62. I hope that, as far as possible, if the candidates are suitable, those who try once will succeed a second time.

Can the Minister rest content with a situation in which he appears to have lost 500 potential teachers, because naturally very many of them prefer to take secondary school training rather than primary school training? It is not that our secondary schools are so well staffed. Surely, some emergency measures are justified to deal with this situation? Is it not a fact that our educational position is serious when we are so short of teachers and no fewer than 500 may have been turned away from the profession for good?

The colleges are crowding up in a very remarkable way, but there is a limit to overcrowding and for the longer term we are now providing a great many new places. I am answering a Written Question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden) about the numbers. I cannot put on one side my responsibility to try to get a balance of teachers for the needs of the schools, and it is the fact that the needs of the primary schools at the moment are the more pressing.

Is not this process continually going on? One year it concerns the primary schools and a few years afterwards the secondary schools. To revert to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden), does not the Minister think that students who did not get in last year will not get in this year and possibly will not get in next year will decide that teaching is not the job for them, since they are getting too old for it? Because the Government are not taking emergency steps, they are not measuring up to the need to acquire the necessary number of teachers.

The only way to meet the situation, which I agree is disappointing, is to provide more places, and that is what we are doing.

asked the Minister of Education how many posts in colleges of advanced technology are at present unfilled; in what subjects the vacancies occur; and what steps are being taken to fill them.

Of the 208 teaching posts unfilled out of a total establishment of 1,776, 106 are in engineering, 51 in mathematics and the sciences, and 51 in other subjects. These vacancies are being constantly advertised in the Press, and the colleges hope that with their change of status to national institutions, and the recent increase in salaries, they will be able to improve their recruitment.

Would the Minister consider renewing his appeal to industry to release suitable engineers and mathematicians? Could not he point out that if these posts are not filled there will not be a supply of technologists and engineers for industry later?

I am doing that, and I am encouraging industry to help us by allowing highly-qualified people to divide their time between colleges and industrial employment.

asked the Minister of Education when he will give his decision on the submission from the Worcestershire County Council for its major building programme for the two years 1963–65.

asked the Minister of Education when he will publish details of the school building programmes for 1963–64 and 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Education which new schools have been sanctioned for Cornwall in the building programmes for 1963–64 and 1964–65.

The major school building programme for 1963–64 will be announced next week. The 1964–65 programme will be settled later.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is very great concern about the inadequacy of accommodation at the Hanley Castle Grammar School? For example, whereas in 1946 there were 4 boys in the sixth form, the number has now risen to 42 and there will be 55 boys in it by September this year. The number of boys in the school, which is carrying out splendid work throughout the rural area and is serving the town of Malvern as well, will have nearly doubled by 1964 compared with the number in it just after the war, and it does not wish to have to turn away pupils.

I am aware of that. The next Question on the Order Paper in the name of my hon. Friend is about this school, and I will answer his points then.

Has the Minister included any school for Falmouth in the programme which he proposes to approve, since a new primary school and a new grammar school and extensions to the technical college are all badly needed?

Much as I should like to give the hon. Gentleman advance information, I must ask him to wait until next week.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at least anticipate this: will we welcome the statement which he will make next week? Is he aware that there has been a considerable delay in making this statement, which we were promised in the autumn? This has caused serious inconvenience to the local education authorities.

The hon. Gentleman certainly ought to welcome the statement. Whether he will or not is another matter.

asked the Minister of Education if he will include approval of the improvements submitted by the Worcestershire County Council for Hanley Castle Grammar School in his decision on its major building programme for the years 1963–65; and if he will authorise the work at that grammar school to be carried out in the first of those years.

I cannot anticipate the programme announcement for 1963–64. But if not included for that year this project will, if the authority wishes, be considered for 1964–65.

Will my right hon. Friend undertake to give urgent consideration to the questions which I asked him on my previous Question and consider how serious this matter will be if it goes unremedied in the very near future?

Yes, I will, but I must also consult the authority's list of priorities.

asked the Minister of Education if he will accept responsibility for the payment of the fees for medical examinations of applicants for superannuation allowances on the grounds of infirmity.

This request has been considered before and the decision, to which I adhere, is that it is not part of the Minister's duty to pay these fees.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is not fair to the teachers concerned? The Ministry of Education gets the best of both worlds. It does not have to pay for the medical examination, but it keeps the medical report. Is he aware that the British Medical Association disagrees with him profoundly on this subject? Would not he agree that, if these teachers have to pay for the medical examination, they should at least have the medical report or it should be sent to their general practitioner?

I understand my hon. Friend's point, but it is quite customary in seeking an insurance policy or something of that nature that a medical report is obtained which is then confidential to the insurance company. I am really in that position.

asked the Minister of Education how many school dental officers are in the employ of local authorities in Welsh counties and county boroughs; and what is the total current deficiency.

Welsh counties and county boroughs employ the equivalent of sixty-one full-time school dental officers; the equivalent of a further eighty-seven full-time dentists would be needed for a comprehensive service.

Is the hon. Member aware of the great concern which exists, especially among parents, about the state of the school dental service? Is he further aware that in the County of Glamorgan the ratio in respect of the school dental service is one dentist per 12,000 children, as compared with one per 3,000, which is the recommended basis? In view of that state of affairs, will he give this matter his serious attention?

I am aware of the very serious condition of the school dental service. The House is familiar with the reasons for it. I must correct the hon Member's figures with regard to the ratio of dentists to children in Glamorgan. I am advised that it is one per 5,600—which we recognise is far less than enough, but which is also a good deal better than the figure given by the hon. Member.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the condition of children's teeth is one of the few things that have not improved in respect of the health of children for many a decade? Does not this fact make it all the more important that we should have a sufficient number of school dentists? Would my hon. Friend like to go to the exhibition on health visitors at the London University and see the graphs concerning this matter? If he did that, he would know a little more about it.

We cannot all be experts in every subject. I have done a good deal of research into this matter. My right hon. Friend and I share the concern which my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) has for the condition of our children's teeth. I am advised that in a good many ways the deterioration in the condition of children's teeth is to some extent an almost inevitable corollary of the improvement in other matters.