§ 12. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what allocation he intends to make in the 1968–69 and 1969–70 building pro- 620 grammes for the implementation of the Plowden proposals for nursery education.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Patrick Gordon Walker)I cannot yet say when it will be possible to contemplate any expansion of nursery education on the lines recommended in the Plowden Report.
§ Mrs. ShortMy right hon. Friend will be aware that that is a very disappointing reply. Cannot he tell the House whether some of the £16 million that his predecessor found after the publication of the Plowden Report will be used to provide nursery education, especially in educating priority areas? If not, why not?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerBecause the £16 million is a capital sum set aside, which will go mainly into building primary schools, but also some secondary schools. Nursery education, which I am in favour of extending in education priority areas, would involve current money all the time.
§ Sir E. BoyleWill the Minister tell us what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to provide nursery classes in existing schools in accordance with the policy propounded when the Conservative Government were in power as long ago as 1963?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerLocal education authorities do provide this—on a small scale, I am afraid. I cannot encourage it by the rate support grant, because I have not enough money to do that at the moment. The more local education authorities do this the happier I will be.