§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the higher leaving certificate examination in Scotland this year has the Latin examination and the higher accounts examination at the same time on the same day, and that this involves unfairness to pupils who have studied both these subjects at school; and if he will give a general direction to the Scottish Examination Board to ensure that such examinations do not take place at the same time on the same day.
§ Mr. William RossThe board's arrangements have included for several years provision for some examinations in different subjects to take place at the same time. A candidate in both subjects may take the papers at different times on the same day, or, if this is impracticable or would impose undue strain on the candidate, he may take such papers as will, when supplemented by class evidence, give the examiners a reliable basis on which to determine the results.
It is my policy to leave the arrangements for the examinations to the discretion of the board, and I do not propose to give any direction in this matter. If the board were prevented from continuing its present practice the examination period would have to be extended unduly.