HC Deb 16 October 1969 vol 788 cc587-9
20. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he now has for increasing provision of nursery schools and other educational facilities for children under the ages of five years; and what further advice he has given to local education authorities on these matters.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Miss Alice Bacon)

The total number of children under 5 in maintained schools rose from 167,000 in 1957 to 210,000 in 1968. 10,000 additional nursery places in deprived areas have been included in the urban programme this year and some local authorities helping pre-school play groups in these areas are receiving grants of £150,000 towards their expenditure. Further progress will be made as fast as resources allow.

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that we greatly appreciate the increased provision which has been made over the last two or three years? However, what increased provision will be made over, say, the next five years? Will there be an increased allocation of funds to this part of education?

Miss Bacon

As my hon. Friend knows, we are making a start in the deprived areas where young children are more in need of nursery school provision. As he will also realise, the Government have set aside £25 million for the urban programme over four years, and some of it will be devoted to nursery education. We have not yet decided how much of next year's allocation will be devoted to nursery classes and nursery schools, but certainly a good proportion will.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

Will the right hon. Lady encourage or empower other local authorities to appoint play group advisers? Has her right hon. Friend yet decided to extend the grant, modest but invaluable, towards the salary of the National Play Group Adviser due to end. I think, next year?

Miss Bacon

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the responsibility for play groups is not that of my Department; it comes under the Secretary of State for Social Services. We are empowering local authorities to give grants to voluntary play groups, and they will receive 75 per cent. reimbursement. It is up to the local authorities to decide what help in these areas shall be given.

Mr. J. T. Price

I for one would raise no objection to the development of nursery school education in the way my right hon. Friend has mentioned, but is she aware that in many parts of the country, and particularly in my part of Lancashire, the backlog for building primary schools for children between 5 and 9 is so serious that it should have the major priority in the allocation of Government funds? Will she continue to give increasing attention to the need to catch up with the backlog of primary school building?

Miss Bacon

The amount spent on school building this year is exactly twice what was spent in 1964. I am sure that my hon. Friend appreciates that it is possible to open a nursery class in an existing school without a great expenditure of resources, and this is what is being done.

Mr. Ewing

Is it not the case that, because of the great need for other kinds of schooling, nursery education is often the Cinderella? While we are glad to hear that there is an increase, is the right hon. Lady aware that a place in a nursery school, at least in my constituency, depends on ability to pay for it or on the child's mother being a working mother or a deserted wife? Cannot something be done to bring the provision of nursery education back to the top of the queue, as it is fundamental to the development of many young children?

Miss Bacon

As the hon. Lady knows, I am not responsible for education in Scotland; that is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland. This is the first major break-through in the provision of nursery schools and classes since the war and the Government are concentrating the available resources where they are most needed, and that is on the children in the poorest and the deprived areas.