HC Deb 08 February 1968 vol 758 cc636-8
19. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources will be made available by him for the implementation of the Plowden proposals in the deprived areas in 1969–70 and 1970–71.

Mr. Gordon Walker

A special building programme of £8 million for 1969–70 has already been announced for educational priority areas. These areas will also benefit from part of the increase in the basic school building programme for 1969–70 announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January.

Mrs. Short

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Wolverhampton we have about 300 schoolchildren aged 5 who are at present unable to find a school place? Is he aware that his lack of enthusiasm for providing some help towards nursery education on the lines of the Plowden proposals is particularly unacceptable when the school leaving end of education is being cut? Will he look at this again?

Mr. Walker

On the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, we shall have to wait for the reply to the circular, which will no doubt come to me. I am not unenthusiastic about nursery education, the contrary is the case, but I have not the money or the number of teachers yet. It is often overlooked that, if one sets up a lot of nursery education, one deprives the primary schools of teachers, and we must bear these things in mind.

Mr. Ronald Bell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the denial of education to some children in Wolverhampton is due to the rapid rate of immigration into that town? Will he speak to his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary about this?

Mr. Walker

I am in touch with my right hon. Friend about this and similar matters. I do not know whether that is particularly the case, but sometimes immigration has caused problems and we are doing our very best to cope with this. Local education authorities are cooperating extraordinarily well.

Mrs. Short

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I inform the hon. and learned Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell)—

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order.

Mrs. Short

What the hon. and learned Gentleman said is not true.