§ 52. Mr. Edeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many nursery centres have been established under his Circular 1936; and what pressure he is applying to local authorities to secure the establishment of such centres?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)Owing to the decreasing number of children between the ages of 2 and 5 remaining in reception areas there has been only a small response to the circular mentioned in the Question. Proposals from two authorities, for centres at Dorking and St. Albans, have been approved; others are in course of preparation. Some 20 centres were started by voluntary agencies. We have made every effort to stimulate the formation of centres wherever the need is evident.
§ Mr. EdeIn view of the fact that this Question has been transferred from the Minister of Health to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, are we to understand that the Board have full responsibility for these nursery centres?
§ Mr. LindsayWe are responsible for the administration.
Viscountess AstorDoes that mean that so many of these 40,000 children who were evacuated in January can come back and then go off again?
§ Mr. LindsayMore than 50 per cent. have come back.