asked the Minister for Education if he will describe the revised system of teacher allocation which will be necessary to ensure that no pupil in primary schools will be in classes exceeding 40; and the date on which this upper limit will become operative.

In order to achieve the objective of ensuring that, with proper organisation of classes, the number of pupils in any one class would not exceed 40, it is considered that it would be necessary to revise the current figures of average enrolment required for the appointment and retention of teachers in such a manner that the number of additional units required for each extra assistant teacher would not exceed 35.

It is intended to reach this position at the earliest possible date.

Could I have more concrete information at the earliest possible date? Can the Minister give a categorical assurance to the House that there will be no primary school pupil in a class of over 40 by June 1981?

Categorical statements like that should not be given. The position is a serious one. There has been some neglect which I am trying to remedy in order to make further progress.

Am I right in believing that the Government have decided to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 40 "within a few years," in the terms of their manifesto? Would the Minister not agree that four years comes within the compass of "within a few years"?

We intend to be in office for the following four years and we intend to continue attacking the pupil-teacher ratio.

Would the Minister not agree that he has declined to answer the question in the sense that he has not given me a definite date for the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio to 40?

I can give a definite date for the contribution of the Labour Party when they were in office.

Answer the question.

Hit me now with the children of the nation in my arms.