HC Deb 15 March 1971 vol 813 cc910-1
50. Mr. Armstrong

asked the Secretary for State for Education and Science how many children over three years of age and under five are attending maintained nursery schools in the Northern Region, and what percentage they form of the total number of children in the three to five age group.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William van Straubenzee)

There were 9,280 pupils under the age of five (excluding rising five's) at maintained nursery and primary schools in the Northern region in January, 1970. This represented about 9.7 per cent. of the three and four-year-old age-groups.

Mr. Armstrong

I thank the Under-Secretary for that reply. Would he not agree that it represents a very serious situation? Would he not accept that if children are to have any semblance of equality of opportunity, the only way in which to deal with the under-fives, particularly in the Northern Region, is to have a massive extension of maintained nursery schools?

Mr. van Straubenzee

I could not go any further than the public announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and the hon. Gentleman, who follows these matters so closely, obviously remembers what that was. However, he will know that in County Durham, part of which he represents, the figure is 24.5 per cent., which is markedly different.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Would my hon. Friend resist the temptation to expand nursery school education beyond certain limits, as it must be an expensive undertaking which could be done only at the expense of the education budget as a whole, which at the moment is fully stretched?

Mr. van Straubenzee

There can be no change in the priorities which have already been announced, but my hon. Friend and I would agree that money spent on education in the early stages of a child's life is very valuable. However, I take his point, because it is a matter of priorities.

Mr. Torney

I am pleased to hear the Under-Secretary say that education in the early part of a child's life is of great importance. Has he considered giving special consideration to nursery schools in areas with large immigrant populations where they can be even more helpful, particularly in teaching young children the language?

Mr. van Straubenzee

That is exactly why the present policy rests on the priority areas.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Is my hon. Friend aware that one of the deterrents which is keeping children from nursery schools is the fact that they are now charged the full adult fare on buses to and from their homes?

Mr. van Straubenzee

I could not now deal with the specific matter of school bus fares, but I know my hon. Friend's interest in the subject and the special representations which he has been making.