asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what level he proposes raising the number of teachers in Cornwall.

Cornwall, whose staffing standards are already better than the national average, may expect to receive its fair share of the increasing output of teachers from the universities and training colleges.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, although the ratios are better than 19 to 1 in secondary schools and 28 to 1 in primary schools, there is an urgent need in country areas to have increased numbers, and surely he will bear in mind what was said in the Gracious Speech and ensure that rural areas get their fair share?

We have in mind all the things said in the Gracious Speech. The shortage of teachers throughout the country was one of the problems which we inherited from the ex-Government and we are taking steps to deal with it. The fact remains that the problem in Cornwall is a little less severe than in other rural areas.

In view of what the hon. Gentleman has just said, is it not correct that the student population in training colleges this autumn is nearly 14,000 above what it was two years ago and that we are nearly 3,000 ahead of the Robbins' target for this year?

Yes, Sir; there has been some improvement in very recent years, but the overall performance of the last 13 years has not matched up to the need, and the country is still 54,000 teachers short measured against the maximum size of classes laid down in the 1944 Act.