asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will introduce legislation to vary the present legal status of the voluntary-aided grammar schools.

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of introducing such legislation.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise how glad many of those concerned with such schools will be, particularly in the Inner London Education Authority area, in view of the statement made by Mr. Young, Chairman of the Education Committee of that authority, that negotiations were in progress for the take-over of such schools?

I note what the hon. Gentleman says. He will be glad to know that my right hon. Friend has asked authorities to consult governors of schools affected by their proposals for secondary reorganisation and the other voluntary interests concerned before submitting their plans to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now withdraw Circular 10/66 on school building programmes.

No, Sir.

Does the latter part of paragraph 5 of the circular mean that, where a local education authority's plans for secondary education do not coincide with the right hon. Gentleman's ideas on comprehensives, no building of secondary schools will be authorised however acute the overcrowding or the shortage?

The Government's policy is perfectly clear. It is that the country should go comprehensive. It would be very foolish and uneconomical, that being so, not to make it plain to local authorities and to encourage them to build schools which were inconsistent with such a pattern.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that he intends to use financial pressure to override the wishes of locally elected local education authorities?

As for pressure on local authorities, the right hon. Gentleman might consult some of his ex-colleagues. Many Labour authorities have bitter memories of the treatment they suffered at the hands of Miss Horsbrugh and Sir David Eccles, as they then were. It is the Government's policy to go comprehensive. This being so, it seems logical and sensible that we should make clear that, when considering building plans, this is our policy.

Quite apart from the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter), will the Minister bear in mind the very real anxiety among many local authorities that this circular will hold up school building and cause delay in very much needed school building plans?

I do not believe that this anxiety is widespread. We have had no representations from any local authorities on this circular at all.

Will my right hon. Friend accept that there are some local authorities, including my own, which are benefiting as a result of action taken under this circular in having their capital works programmes increased so that existing out-of-date school buildings can be immensely improved?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the Inner London Education Authority.

I have nothing to acid to the statement I made on 18th November last.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman does not propose to introduce legislation to interfere with the review of the Inner London Education Authority provided for in the London Government Act?

No, Sir; we propose to introduce legislation to repeal the so-called review clauses in that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has regarding the number of students unable to obtain admission to university in October 1965; and how many of these were rejected by Scottish universities.

I can give figures only in respect of applications made through the Universities Central Council on Admissions, in which not all university institutions participated in 1965. In particular, certain Scottish universities continue to receive applications direct from Scottish students. There were 80,000 applicants for admission through U.C.C.A. in 1965, and there were 36,500 admissions through the scheme. Total admissions were, however, higher than this, being 49,500. For the reasons I have given, I cannot provide an answer to the second part of the Question.

Are not those figures rather frightening, in view of the number of students with qualifications who are, apparently, rejected? Would it not be better for our balance of payments if we restored the university building cuts instead of continuing them?

It is important to realise that the difference between about 50,000 and 80,000 applicants does not necessarily reveal the number of intending students unable to obtain places. Many were able to go to university-type institutions, Many opted for a third sixth-form year, which in many cases is advisable. It is very likely that the number who failed to get into universities or university-type institutions was much smaller than the figures suggest.

But do not the figures which the Minister has quoted show clearly that the Robbins Committee, so far from over-rating, in fact under-rated the demand for full-time higher education? Will the hon. Gentleman take it that we intend at the earliest possible opportunity to have a debate on this matter to draw attention to what we regard as the inadequate provision which the Government are making?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for using the Pinewood Hospital buildings near Wokingham for educational purposes.

The Berkshire County Council has submitted a proposal that, subject to its being able to acquire the Pinewood Hospital property, some of the buildings should be used as a residential unit for the Easthampstead Park College of Education.

Are not the buildings ideally suited for the purpose which the Minister has outlined, and will he give me his assurance that his Department is positively assisting the county council to lay its hands on these buildings, in view of the vigorous bid being made for them, for penal purposes I think, by the Home Office?

Subject to the proviso that such buildings must be offered in the first instance to other Government Departments for Government use, my right hon. Friend would be prepared to endorse this proposal when it comes forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of expenditure of public funds by way of grants to the universities.

£224 million.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that it's inappropriate, in view of the Franks Commission's revelation of the disinclination of the present Warden to administer it as an educational establishment, for any portion of this money to go to All Souls' College, Oxford?

All Souls' College, Oxford, like other Oxford and Cambridge colleges, is not in receipt of Exchequer grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the response of local authorities to his request for them to review their school transport arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend relies on local education authorities to use the discretion given to them under the Act. He does not ask them to give him detailed information.

As this is a matter which affects a great many children in rural areas, ought not the hon. Gentleman to take it seriously and bother to find out what is happening?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that we do take it seriously. While not having precise information as to the response to my right hon. Friend's circular letter when he urged upon authorities, on 12th February last year, the importance of being flexible and generous in these arrangements, we know that many authorities use their discretionary powers with a great deal of flexibility and generosity.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken by his Department to study the link between poverty in low-income households and educational progress in schools.

At least ten research projects supported by my Department, and costing in all about £290,000, have a bearing on this subject.

I appreciate that reply, but will not my right hon. Friend agree that there are at present still too many children suffering in their school work as a result of coming from homes where there is a very low income? Will he try to persuade his colleagues to change the present system whereby the wage-stop is applied?

There are far too many children coming from such homes, and I have no doubt whatever that this has an extremely deleterious effect on their educational performance. But, of course, the solution to this problem goes far beyond anything we can do within my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice or instructions he proposes to give local education authorities on the problems entailed for children who, in transferring from one area to another, pass from one form of comprehensive secondary education to another.

None, Sir. They have considerable experience of dealing with problems of greater difficulty under existing arrangements.

Does my hon. Friend agree that, among the schemes suggested in Circular 10/65, some are perhaps a good deal more comprehensive than others, and will he agree, also, that real difficulties may be experienced by adolescent pupils, for example, who transfer from a Leicestershire-type scheme to a Doncaster-type scheme?

I am reasonably confident that the introduction of comprehensive education will make it generally easier to deal with children of secondary school age who move from one area to another, despite some shades of difference between the degree of comprehension which may exist in different areas. Certainly, the local education authorities have bigger problems now in catering for children who may transfer from one area with a tripartite system to one which has a comprehensive system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now send a further circular to local education authorities on the policy they are to pursue in fitting direct-grant schools into the emerging pattern of comprehensive secondary education.

Not at present.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the somewhat hesitant and even equivocal way in which the negotiations have been conducted in some parts of the country under the terms of Circular 10/65?

The picture varies very much between different parts of the country, and, of course, the problem varies very much in its character between different parts of the country. Having laid down our policy in Circular 10/65, that we wanted to see negotiations take place between authorities and the direct grant schools, we would not have been justified n taking a different attitude until the plans asked for under the circular had actually come in.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some authorities are finding that they are very short of time for consultation in accordance with the circular, and will he be prepared to postpone submission of these schemes in certain cases?

I certainly would not be prepared to allow a general postponement for authorities as a whole, but any authority has the right under the circular to ask for a postponement. We have already granted postponements in eight cases where we thought there were special difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies he is making for a British scientific satellite as a successor to the proposed U.K.3.

The opportunities for United Kingdom scientists to fly experiments in E.S.R.O. and N.A.S.A. satellites are likely to absorb the funds available for space research in the near future. This does not, however, exclude the possibility of a successor to U.K.3 at a later date.

Having regard to the time scale in the planning and preparation of these experiments, should we not now be carefully studying a successor to this satellite which is due to be launched next year?

As the right hon. Gentleman said, we expect that this third in the Ariel series may be launched early next year, but this is a matter which must be decided in relation to the general scientific research programme and on the very best advice. My right hon. Friend is, of course, advised on this as on cognate matters by the Science Research Council and the Council for Scientific Policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what costs per school place his 1968–69 building programme is based; and to what extent these will be increased by the effect of the selective employment tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will revise the present cost limits for primary and secondary school places.

The present cost limits per place are £230 and £435, respectively, for new primary and secondary schools. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to make an announcement soon about new cost limits.

Does not that make nonsense of the figures in the National Plan, which were given as £190 for a primary school place and £338 for a secondary school place? Will not the figures in the National Plan, ! therefore, have to be substantially revised?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's conclusion. The figures in the Answer relate to gross costs per school place.

Does not that Answer mean that the present limits are totally unrealistic, and does it not equally mean that this must inevitably result in a serious lowering of standards in school building?

With that proposition, similarly, I would not agree.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will recommend the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole field of future education.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that reply will give a great deal of disappointment to many schoolmasters who are the men carrying out the task of education on the ground and who feel that so many decisions are being taken rather piecemeal that now is the time to have a review of the whole of our education at all stages right through to university level?

The reply may come as a disappointment, but it will hardly come as a surprise, as I have now been making this reply for very nearly 12 months. The fact is that we have and have had in the recent past a great many advisory bodies and committees of inquiry and so on into the education service. It cannot be maintained at the moment that we need another, and the only consequence of setting up another would be to delay decisions which should be taken rapidly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue instructions to his department that, when protests similar to those made in the case of the siting of the County Junior School, Humberston, near Grimsby, are made, they are dealt with immediately.

I have written again to the hon. Member about this.

This school is being built within a yard or two of the houses of my constituents, who protested first to the parish council, the R.D.C. and the county council, and then, through me, to the right hon. Gentleman. There are two fields beyond which they ask for the school to be moved away from their houses. Will not the right hon. Gentleman have a heart and look at this matter again?

As for the protest, the hon. Gentleman wrote to me on 17th May and I wrote back two days later, which shows that I took up the matter as rapidly as I could. The fact is that we have local democracy in this country—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—and as soon as one begins to interfere with the siting of a particular building one is taking crucial powers from local authorities, and that I am not prepared to do.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take regarding those local education authorities who submit proposals arising from Circular 10/65 which are aimed at continuing the 11-plus examination in one form or other.

Local education authorities are not asked to reply to my Circular 10/65 until 12th July. The remaining parts of this Question therefore relate to hypothetical circumstances.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a number of Tory-controlled councils are or will be submitting to him quite bogus proposals which will continue the 11-plus in one form or another? Is he also aware that parents in those areas will expect some firm action from him?

If bogus schemes are submitted, I shall reject them.

Local democracy!

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile Circular 10/65 with local democracy?

That is a question which might well be addressed to a number of right hon. Gentlemen on the Opposition Front Bench who have also occupied this post. The fact is that it is a long established tradition in this country that while the Government do not interfere with detailed local decisions, such as where to site a school, nevertheless it is the function of the Government to lay down the broad lines of national education policy, and that it what we have done.

The right hon. Gentleman will agree, however, that the Question of the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) follows rather ironically on the second half of the supplementary answer which the right hon. Gentleman gave on the preceding Question. Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in the months ahead it will be much more important to scrutinise very severely some non-viable schemes for comprehensive education by some Labour-controlled authorities rather than to force comprehension on authorities which are already fulfilling their statutory duty by providing a full range of opportunity?

There is nothing in the slightest ironic in the juxtaposition of these two Questions. The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that we have always left detailed questions, such as the siting of a school, to local authorities and I hope that we always shall. But it must be the responsibility of the Government, of whatever complexion, to lay down the broad lines of education policy. As to scrutinising schemes, my main worry at the moment is that expressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick)—that we may have some rather bogus schemes from Conservative authorities. But the 'fight hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that I have always scrutinised schemes with the greatest of care, even when they have come from Labour authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he is acting constitutionally in seeking to alter by Ministerial circular the intentions of Parliament as to secondary education as laid down in the Education Act, 1944?

I am perfectly satisfied, and none of the associations concerned, nor the Opposition Front Bench, has ever suggested that I was acting unconstitutionally.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that there is nothing democratic about the 11-plus selection system and all that goes with it?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science at how many schools outside toilets are still being used; and how many of these are not fully roofed.

In 1962, when the school building survey was carried out, 17,378 schools had mainly out-of-door sanitation. The survey did not distinguish between lavatories with roofs and those without. To obtain information about improvements since the survey would require a special enquiry of all authorities.

Will my hon. Friend undertake some kind of inquiry along these lines? Would he not agree that it is quite deplorable that there are many schools with sub-standard toilet and sanitary accommodation while there is a considerable amount of unnecessary social building by private enterprise in the localities concerned? There is quite a lot in my district alone.

I am conscious of the deficiencies in this respect in many schools, and I regret that it will not be possible to get rid of all outside lavatories in schools for some time, but that is no reason why conditions in them should not be made hygienic and tolerable. However, the authorities are very busy at the moment and this matter would not justify a special inquiry.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult his right hon. Friend to discover whether local education authorities would be satisfied to know that in the opinion of the Ministers the function of those authorities is the siting of schools and the siting of toilets?

I will certainly consult my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what have so far been the effects upon the public education system of England of the need to educate large numbers of children of Commonwealth immigrants; what extra numbers of children have been involved during the past two years; and whether he will make a statement.

The effects have been confined to the few areas much affected. Extra numbers have sometimes increased staffing difficulties, particularly in places short of teachers, and there have been some teaching problems particularly where the children know little or no English. The presence of classes with a large exotic element has sometimes altered the character of lessons, not always for the worse. Approximately 49,000 children of all ages under 16 were admitted from Commonwealth countries for settlement to the United Kingdom during the two years 1964 and 1965.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that dependants are still coming in in large numbers and going to live in places where classes are already full? What are the Government to do about it?

A careful watch is being kept on this. It is impossible to generalise, because, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate, the problem is that of only a small minority of schools in a limited number of areas. But in all respects a very careful watch is being kept. Where local education authorities have shown that they need extra teachers, their quota has been increased to make provision for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement he gives to local education authorities to second their personnel for a tour in overseas countries of the Commonwealth; and whether those volunteering to go will lose or gain promotion in their home-based jobs.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the current issue of "Why not teach for a time Overseas?" The aim is to encourage local education authorities to second teachers to serve overseas without fear that their professional advancement will suffer and with confidence that due credit will be given for experience gained abroad.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the agreement between Nigeria and the Greater London Council in this matter, and will he call the attention of other local democracies to that agreement?

I am aware of this arrangement, and I am sure that the publicity arising from this Question and Answer will serve to bring this matter to the attention of other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the representations he has received and the need for a new primary school in Helsby, he will include this school in the 1967–68 building programme; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering proposals by local authorities for the 1967–68 programe, but he cannot yet announce which will be included.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind, when making that consideration, that this school in an expanding area is genuinely needed? Will he confirm that Cheshire Education Authority has included this school in its applications in the previous two years? Finally, would he be prepared to accept a petition, signed by the residents, in support of the school?

All relevant facts will be taken into consideration. My right hon. Friend has arranged for the proposed deputation from the authority to be received by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the Redbridge Borough Council's response to his circular requiring education authorities to submit plans for the reorganisation of secondary education in the future.

When I have received the authority's scheme and have had an opportunity to study it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman deal with this with reasonable dispatch, and will he prepare his mind to receive a model compromise between wasteful and unnecessary destruction of existing excellent schools and willingness to experiment for the future?

I shall certainly deal with the matter with reasonable dispatch. Whether it is a model I cannot say until I have seen it.

Do the right hon. Gentleman and his Government adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and, if so, will he bear in mind Article 26(3) which says:

"Parents have a prior right …"—

The hon. Gentleman must not quote but make himself responsible for everything in his Question.

With all respect, Mr. Speaker, if you will bear with me in patience for a minute or two, you will see the relevance——

I am not interested in relevance; I am interested in order.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number and percentage of independent schools recognised as efficient which are charities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many indpendent schools which are recognised as efficient are not charities; and how many of these provide boarding facilities.

Complete information is not available. 385 (or 25 per cent.) are registered as charities and 373 (or 24 per cent.), which are provided by religious orders, are thought to be charities. It is estimated that about 250 of the remaining 787 will be registered as charities. Boarding facilities are provided at 542 of these 787.

Is it not inequitable and anomalous that a substantial proportion of this most important sector, recognised as efficient in education, will therefore suffer the proposed discrimination in the Selective Employment Tax? Does not the Minister agree that it is very important that, if there is to be a selective tax, remission should extend to all teaching and learning?

I should like to make it clear that there is no question of discrimination against those independent schools which are not charities. All services, public and private, will bear the tax. The Government are offsetting the elect on local authorities in order to protect the ratepayers and on charities because of the hardship which might otherwise be caused to some institutions.

Can the Minister say what representations, if any, he has made to the Chancellor about the effect of this new tax on the cost of boarding places? Does he propose that the element of this which is matched from public funds in the case of local authorities and the Overseas Diplomatic Service shall be increased?

These matters have all been covered in the representations received and in the decisions of the Government.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, whatever the intentions of the tax, the figures which he has disclosed this afternoon will strike people as representing a completely indefensible anomaly educationally, and that we shall certainly press this matter very hard?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities have their own medical centres; and how many of these centres have a psychiatric section.

Nearly all universities have some form of student health service. I understand that this service does not as a rule include psychiatrists but where necessary refers students to the appropriate specialist for treatment.

Would my hon. Friend not agree that it is an appalling state of affairs, when so many students at universities have minor psychotic disturbances, that they should either be sent to a relatively untrained person, who will probably administer tonic and an aspirin, or that they should be sent to a nearby mental hospital where they will meet people in a far worse condition than themselves?

It is the policy of the University Grants Committee to encourage the development by universities of student health services. This is a matter for the university concerned. Such services are expected to be developed in co-operation with the National Health Service, which is available to students, as to the rest of the population.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what factors he attributes delays by local education authorities in starting their school building programmes.

There are many factors, and any attempt at a short summary would be misleading. My right hon. Friend is discussing the whole question with the local authority associations and he will be glad to have a word with the hon. Member.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that by speeding up the machinery for approving school building plans within his own Department some delays could be avoided? Could not further delays be avoided by announcing programmes further in advance, so there would be less hold-up as a result of difficulties in acquiring sites?

I am conscious of the fact that there have been some delays, and we have looked into our internal position. I am bound to say that we have not revealed any great evidence of delay inside the Department. If the hon. Member will send me details of any particular cases which he has in mind I will certainly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have notified him of their wish to adopt an age transfer, other than 11 years, from primary to secondary education.

A number of authorities have discussed possible schemes of this nature with my Department, but so far no proposals have been formally presented for my statutory approval.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this points to the fact that there is a great deal of uncertainty as to the right age for transfer? Would he not further agree that this illustrates the absolute foolhardiness of issuing Circular 10/65, or any circular on secondary education, before the Plowden Committee has reported?

No, Sir. On the contrary, I think, under present circumstances, that there is a very strong case for a temporary measure of local option over the age of transfer. Quite apart from comprehensive reorganisation, this will greatly facilitate the raising of the school-leaving age in many areas. What we have said clearly is that there will be no question of going over to any different national age of transfer until the Plowden Committee has reported.

the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will extend the time limit for submission by local education authorities of their proposals for secondary reorganisation.

No, Sir. I have considered, and will consider, individual requests for extensions where there are exceptional circumstances.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman find from his own inquiries that a very heavy burden of work is being borne by local education authorities as a result of the secondary reorganisation requirements which in some cases have got in the way of urgent work of another kind—for instance, the school-building programme? Does he not think that it would have been better to have fully considered plans rather than rushed ones from local authorities?

I am quite aware that Circular 10/65 has imposed a heavy burden of work on a number of authorities, particularly county authorities with very scattered and divers areas. As I said in reply to an earlier Question, we have already granted a small number of extensions, and if a case is put up to us for an extension in order to produce a proper scheme then we shall consider it sympathetically.

Will the Secretary of State undertake to scrutinise very carefully all applications for an extension of the time limit to ensure that the reasons for that extension are genuine and not just delaying tactics by certain reactionary authorities?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he hopes to report the findings of he Bessey Committee on voluntary service by young people.

The Report on Service by Youth was published on 3rd June, 1966.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the concern felt by that very fine, prganisation, International Voluntary Service, at the delay in implementation?

My right hon. Friend, proposes to make a considered statement about the implementation of the Report and hopes to do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation to impose a staffing quota on schools in the Private sector.

No, Sir.

Because of the disparity of the teacher-pupil ratio between private and public schools, would not my right hon. Friend agree that it is inequitable that the schools in the private sector have recourse to so many teachers who have been trained at public expense?

I have a great deal of sympathy with my hon. Friend's point of view, but there are a number of serious practical difficulties in applying a quota to the staffing of independent schools. My right hon. Friend feels that it would be appropriate to await the views of the Public Schools Commission on the whole question of integrating public schools with the maintained system of education before dealing with this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make arrangements to relieve teachers of all duties in connection with school meals.

No, Sir. The arrangements in force for the supervision of school meals were agreed with local education authorities and the teachers' associ- ations, and they are designed not to involve individual teachers in unreasonable burdens.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that if something were done in this direction teachers would be assured of the real intentions of the right hon. Gentleman in the use of auxiliaries in schools?

The positon is well understood by the teachers' associations, in that they were parties to the agreement and know how this works in practice in its application by local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial assistance was given in the year 1965–66 by the Welsh Arts Council to the Llangollen Eisteddfod, and to the National Eisteddfod of Wales in the year 1964–65; and what assistance has been offered by the Arts Council of Great Britain to the Tees-side International Industrial Eisteddfod 1966.

In 1965–66 the Welsh Committee of the Arts Council gave the Llangollen International Eisteddfod a grant of £1,000, and in 1964–65 spent approximately £2,000 in aiding the National Eisteddfod of Wales. The amount offered by the Ants Council of Great Britain to the Tees-side International Industrial Eisteddfod 1966 is £500 in the form of a guarantee.

While recognising that my right hon. Friend has no direct responsibility for the detailed allocations, may I ask her whether she would agree that there is a rather serious and depressing contrast between the size of these grants, bearing in mind that the Tees-side International Industrial Eisteddfod is a first-time event, bearing a greater burden of risk, and is estimated to cost £23,000?

Yes, Sir. But, as I think my hon. Friend knows, these matters are left entirely to the judgment of the Arts Council, in which I have complete confidence, and the North-Eastern Association for the Arts gets a considerable grant from the Arts Council which can, if it pleases, supplement this amount.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on the finances of the National Theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on the finances of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on the finances of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House are all charities and as such will receive a refund of tax under the Selective Employment Payments Bill.

I thank the right hon. Lady for the information. May I congratulate her on her Privy Councillorship and on having triumphed over the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose idiotic decision in the beginning filled everybody with gloom?

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the way in which the Arts Council assesses and distributes national and local subsidies for the arts; and if he will make a statement.

I have the highest confidence in the ability of the Arts Council to fulfil this difficult and important task with skill and impartiality.

But is the right hon. Lady aware that the secretary of the North-Eastern Association for the Arts, Mr. Dunbar, has made grave complaint about not having the grant which will be paid to the Association told to the committee in time to make its forward estimates? Although the Arts Council may do a jolly good job, we could do with the matter being speeded up a little on the North-East Coast.

If the hon. Lady will talk further with Mr. Dunbar——

I have never spoken to him.

I am sure that Mr. Dunbar will be willing to tell the hon. Lady some of his secrets and will inform her that he had advance information about the amount to be granted. The Arts Council is now working on three-year forward planning, because, clearly, before projects can not only be got off the ground but kept off the ground, it should have adequate advance information.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we in the North-East are very grateful for the greater support which we are now getting in the development of the arts? Will she encourage regional organisations elsewhere in the country to be the main channel through which arts support is passed on?

We are doing quite well by leaving the initiative to come from local areas. We have four well off the ground and eight coming forward. We believe that this is the way to get the best results.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether all local education authorities have now been advised of the major school building projects which are to be included in the 1967–68 programme; and what is the value of the improvement projects which he has approved for that programme, other than those needed to prepare for the raising of the school leaving age.

I hope to announce the second part of the programme by the end of this month. I expect that the programme will make an appreciable contribution to the improvement of existing schools.

On the second part of the Question, in 1965–66 and 1966–67 the volume of school improvements was a little over £25 million for each year. Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately what the amount will be for 1967–68?

I should not like to give a figure simply because it is increasingly impossible to distinguish between improvements and other forms of school building. Many of the buildings put up in anticipation of raising the school leaving age will have an improvement element in them. When a slum school is replaced by a new school on a new housing estate, this is clearly an improvement, although it has not been defined as such in the past. To isolate a particular figure can only be misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was he result of the urgent examination into tie possibility of creating a completely new technological university institution in tie North-East, which he announced in his statement of 24th February, 1965.

This is still being examined.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Answer is extremely disappointing, bearing in mind what he said about the urgent examination he was carrying out as long ago as February, 1965? This is one of the many matters which we shall certainly wish to raise in the university debate.

It is an extremely serious question whether to create an entirely new university, expensive as that must be and at a time when we have 43 universities in this comparatively small country. Given how serious the question is, I make no apology at all for taking a reasonable time to consider it.

When my right hon. Friend has come to a decision about this technical university, will he consider siting it in an appropriate place-for example, in the new town of Peterlee, in my constituency?

One of the striking flings in this matter is how many appropriate places there appear to be.

Is the Minister aware that during the General Election campaign Labour candidates in the North-East made a great deal of propaganda value out of this proposal and many others which have not been implemented? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the North-East demands action, not words, from the right hon. Gentleman?

Labour candidates generally put up a very good case on all aspects of Government policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information the Office of Scientific and Technical Information has about codes and procedures for information storage and retrieval; and whether he will now make a statement as to the best system for adoption nationally, bearing in mind the need to fit in with any international networks and the need to give advice to research associations and institutes carrying out research in the suitable system for their own specific needs at the present time.

The Office for Scientific and Technical Information is in touch with those responsible for the principal national and overseas plans for mechanising the dissemination, storage and retrieval of information. Many systems are being developed, but rigorous evaluation of their efficiency and economic merits is only just beginning and it is therefore not possible to say whether any one system will emerge as decisively the best.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is now becoming an urgent problem, and is he satisfied that he is getting enough support at Government level?

Yes, absolutely. The O.S.T.I. is supporting some very important experimental projects. It is continuously in touch with organisations in this country and overseas, and it is also working very closely with A.S.L.I.B. in order to meet the objectives which the hon. Gentleman mentions.

While recognising the difficulty of asking questions at this time of day, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he would not agree that it is of great urgency that this evaluation should go forward, and that the retrieval of information will be a subject of growing importance in the years ahead? Will he undertake that this matter will be pushed forward by his Department?

It is being pressed forward, but I take the point made by the right hon. Gentleman in his supplementary question.

asked the Prime Minister how many official Press officers are employed at 10, Downing Street.

Three of the rank of senior information officer or above.

Would it not be better if these official Press officers were used for "leaking" the private meetings of the Parliamentary Labour Party so that we might hear both sides of the story and get it right?

Unlike the previous Government, we do not use Government servants for doing party work.

Do the three Press officers include the Prime Minister's special private photographer?

I have not got a special private photographer.

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said about the staffing of No. 10, can he confirm that they had nothing to do with the issue of the news release of his statement yesterday to his own party meeting and, in particular, that they were not responsible for putting on the Press hand-oust of his speech:

"All press releases are issued on a check against delivery basis"?

This was done, appropriately, by the party secretariat. The right hon. Gentleman will understand that misleading accounts of what I said might lead to a lot of misunderstandings abroad. Since it was a party occasion, it was put out by the party secretariat, because, as I say, we do not believe in spending Government money in keeping expensive Ministers engaged on party work.