§ 4. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by his Department in the design of a simple, prefabricated nursery unit suitable for erection at existing infant schools and to assist the early implementation of the Plowden proposals for nursery education.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Department is reviewing the accommodation requirements of nursery groups and the technical means by which their needs can best be met. This is without prejudice to the Government's decisions on the particular Plowden recommendations.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my hon. Friend aware that in certain sections of education the Department, in conjunction with the 746 L.E.A., has done what is referred to in the Question? Would not this be a good way of securing the implementation of the Plowden Report and providing the additional accommodation which is necessary in very many parts of the country?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI appreciate my hon. Friend's suggestion. We are bearing in mind in the technical review which I have mentioned the various sorts of accommodation which can be provided. The suggestion in the Plowden Report that nursery provision may be too lavish at present is one which we obviously cannot reach conclusions about before the technical review is finished.