HC Deb 01 July 1965 vol 715 cc809-10
26. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have agreed to set up nursery classes as an aid to teacher recruitment.

Mr. Denis Howell

Sixteen authorities are now operating a total of 22 classes set up on this footing. Twelve authorities have firm proposals for the establishment of a further 17 classes in the near future, and a number of less definite proposals are also being considered.

Mrs. Short

Does not my hon. Friend think that this is a rather disappointing response to the circular in view of the fact that this is a very valuable method of recruiting married women back to teaching? Is he aware that a national campaign committee was recently set up, and that evidence seems to show that Conservative-controlled authorities are dragging their feet in this respect? Would he, therefore, publish the names of those authorities which have set up nursery classes so that we may see which are the defaulting authorities?

Mr. Howell

We will certainly consider that last suggestion. I entirely agree with my hon. Friend that the response has been disappointing. But I hope that, as a result of a recent Adjournment debate when we drew attention to this matter and asked authorities to look again at it urgently, we shall very shortly be having further proposals brought to our attention. Meanwhile, we are obliged for the publicity of this Question.

Sir E. Boyle

Is it not a fact that the 28 authorities mentioned in the Answer at least represent an improvement on the eight which was the figure at the time of our debate earlier this year? Now that numbers are beginning to increase to some extent, will the Minister do all that he possibly can to see that this fact is well-known among authorities and that this is a step which a growing number of authorities are rightly deciding to take?

Mr. Howell

I think that the propositions in that supplementary question are right and my right hon. Friend intends to take a very early opportunity of drawing attention to them.