asked the Minister of Defence what is the percentage of semi-illiterates found in the three Services out of the monthly call-up.

There is in practice no accepted definition of a semi-illiterate. Of the current intake into the Army about 50 men each fortnight have to be sent as illiterate to special elementary education courses and about 50 others who are also in need of such courses. Together this is about 2 per cent. of the present intake. The problem is not arising at present in the case of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

How can the Minister explain this position in view of the great expenditure on education services? Does he think that this has anything to do with the return of the Government at the last Election?

I should have thought that the state of education of men of 18 has not much to do with the return of the Government in 1945. I have no doubt that in later years some of them suffered severely as a result of a break in educational arrangements during the war. I have no doubt that the hon. Member will get a more detailed answer if he addresses a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.