§ 15. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Education when he expects to announce the results of the review of the statistics provided to his Department.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe current review of the various parts of my Department's statistics is proceeding steadily, but will take some time to complete. As decisions are taken they are being implemented and will be evident in the statistical information published from now on.
§ Mr. ThomsonI thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that in answer to a recent Parliamentary Question that I put to him he confessed that he could give no useful estimate at all of the number of children taking mathematics and science and the number of hours of tuition in these subjects, although his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State 620 for Scotland provided useful and exact information on these matters? How does he expect to plan education in this scientific age without that basic information? Will he ensure that the result of his review is at least to bring his statistical services up to the level of the Scottish Education Department?
§ Sir D. EcclesI have no doubt that we can learn something from each other.