HC Deb 24 October 1961 vol 646 cc43-4W
53. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of junior secondary schools in Lanarkshire include in their curriculum the study of a language other than English.

Mr. Maclay

Provision is made for the study of a language other than English in eight out of a total of 52 junior secondary schools and also in eight out of 16 junior secondary departments in other schools.

52. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the three stream classification of Lanarkshire schoolchildren at around the age of 12 and their subsequent seg- regation into three different types of school is in accordance with the recommendations of the 1959 Report of the Working Party on the Curriculum of Senior Secondary Schools.

Mr. Maclay

Some selection according to ability is clearly necessary, and the Working Party's recommendations have to be considered by authorities having regard to the circumstances of their area. The general problem is one which I shall be reviewing further with the authorities in the light of the report from the Advisory Council on transfer from primary to secondary education which will shortly be published.

57. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that material being supplied to Lanarkshire schools for homecraft lessons is of an inflammable nature; and what steps he proposes to take to remove this danger.

Mr. Maelay

I understand that some of the material used may be of an inflammable nature, and I am considering whether there are any steps that I can usefully take in the matter.