asked the Minister of Education the procedure education authorities must follow in order to obtain the release of teachers under Class B of the Re-allocation of Manpower Scheme.

The arrangements which have been made for the release of teachers under Class B of the Re-allocation of Manpower Scheme have been explained to local education authorities in Administrative Memorandum No. 64 issued on 6th June, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

Is the hon. Lady aware that this is a complete reversal of the policy which was in force up to a week ago, and that local authorities hardly know where they are with it? Would her Department be willing to let local authorities write in about names which they are anxious to have?

I think that local authorities would be entitled to write to the Ministry and we would look into the cases.

Have not some local authorities been advised that they should not ask for individual teachers, and is it not most important that they should go to the right schools?

I think local education authorities or governors of schools who are interested in the early release of a particular teacher should make sure that he is on the list of teachers identified by the Ministry.

In view of the obvious confusion on this issue, would the hon. Lady in the course of the next few weeks go into this matter?

Would the hon. Lady go back to the sensible arrangement we had before she took office?