§ 41. Mr. DAGGARasked the President of the Board of Education how many new nursery schools have been opened and how many plans have been approved from the 1st July, 1929, to August, 1931; and how many have been opened and plans for others approved since that date?
§ Sir D. MACLEANBetween the beginning of July, 1929, and the end of August, 1931, 18 nursery schools were recognised for the first time by the Board of Education. In 13 of these cases the plans had been approved during the same period. Since the end of August, 1931, five further schools have received recognition, plans in all these cases having been approved before that date and after July, 1929. Plans for 10 further schools were approved between the beginning of July, 1929, and the end of August, 1931, and for one further school since the latter date. Apart from one voluntary proposal which has been abandoned, most of these 11 schools are either already opened though not yet formally recognised, or are approaching completion.
§ Sir P. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the great leeway to be made up in the organisation and construction of nursery schools, and will he consider that the need of economy should not be allowed to stand in the way of building more schools?
§ Sir D. MACLEANI am afraid economy does stand in the way at the present time.
Viscountess ASTORWill the President bear in mind the cost of sickness to the country, and the fact that nursery schools really are not merely now, but in the immediate future, a real saving to the health of the people?