§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Education what was the composition of the Secondary School Examinations Council immediately before a change in its membership was 127W effected in 1947, altering the representation in favour of the modern school; whether there was any direct consultation of the universities before he adopted his decision announced in Circular 168; and whether he proposes to enforce his new examination, notwithstanding the opposition it has aroused, both in the schools and in the universities.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI am sending the hon. Member a statement showing the composition of the Secondary School Exam-nations Council prior to its reconstitution in its present form in 1946. The changes then made were necessitated by the passing of the Education Act, 1944, and the new conception of secondary education which it introduced. The grammar schools continue to be strongly represented on the Council, which also includes, as the old Council did not, direct representatives of the universities. I consulted the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of Universities at an early stage following the issue of the Council's report and in March, 1948, discussed with them the draft of Circular 168. I do not propose to vary the arrangements made for the introduction of the new examination system.