asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the teaching of foreign languages in the State-aided schools, a proportion of the time is devoted to the study of the spoken as against the written language; and whether a conversation test is part of the first schools examination pass?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 30th November last. As regards the second part, a conversational test is always provided, though it is not always a compulsory part of the examination in the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Order Paper, which is not answered in the question to which he refers, as to the proportion of time devoted to the study of the spoken against the written language?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will realise that the proportion of time given to reading and speaking varies with every teacher in every School.

May I ask for something like a rough estimate?

The only estimate I could give would be so rough as to be of no service.

Is it not absolutely necessary that freedom should be left to the teachers?