§ 14. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education why he has rejected the local education authority's proposal to open a nursery school in Silverdale in the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and, in view of the availability of 354 suitable premises, if he will reconsider his decision.
§ Sir D. EcclesAs I told the hon Member in my recent letter, the opening of new nursery schools would divert teachers from primary schools and so hinder our efforts to reduce the size of class. I cannot allow day nurseries which closed through lack of support to re-open as nursery schools.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister not aware that his Department was prepared to consider a project, and that he asked the Staffordshire authority to show there was an industrial as well as an educational need for it, and that when the authority showed there was an industrial need he said it was irrelevant and rejected the project? Will he not consider again the overwhelming case for a nursery school from both the educational and industrial point of view, and consider whether the very small staff required can be provided for it?
§ Sir D. EcclesI am quite willing to look at it again, but I am certain that our first duty is to cut down the size of classes in primary schools.