§ 23. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 1667 if she will encourage the provision of nursery education accommodation as near as possible to the homes of families with young children, and, as a start, propose the conversion into a nursery classroom of one ground-floor flat with access to outdoor play space on estates of council multi-storey flats.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThis kind of provision is eligible for consideration under the Urban Programme if it satisfies the requirements of the relevant regulations about health and safety.
§ Mr. Allaun.I very much appreciate that Answer. Does the hon. Gentleman realise that many blocks of flats have no playgrounds at all and that, even if there is one, often it is impossible for a mother to keep an eye on her young child perhaps 15 storeys down? As a result, many thousands of children are hemmed in almost permanently in their flats with serious effects on themselves and their mothers.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI am aware of problems of this kind, and I am aware of them especially in the area represented by the hon. Gentleman. However, the hon. Gentleman will probably agree that alterations of this kind are not always satisfactory to existing blocks and present great problems, but that they make a good deal of sense if they are incorporated at the design stage of new blocks.
§ Miss LestorWhen do the Government intend to uphold the commitment given to the National Commission for Nursery Education by the Conservative National Advisory Committee on Education that the Government would be withdrawing Circular 8/60 and increasing the money available under the urban aid programme for nursery schools?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeCertainly it will not be made as a result of an announcement on a technical point dealing with high blocks of flats.