Nursery Education

HC Deb 08 March 1973 vol 852 cc572-3

10. Mr. Luce

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the extension of nursery education in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Peter Mills

The existing provision of 24 nursery schools and 18 nursery classes in primary schools will be expanded over the next few years to provide at least another 50 new nursery schools. This will be financed by the £1½ million programme of capital expenditure recently introduced.

Mr. Luce

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Does he agree that because so many children in Northern Ireland are brought up in an atmosphere of insecurity and violence it is of overwhelming importance that the greatest priority for assistance should be given to their nursery education? How does the level of Northern Ireland expenditure on nursery education compare with that of the rest of the United Kingdom?

Mr. Mills

I agree wholeheartedly with the first part of what my hon. Friend has said. Progress is being made. There is a very good programme of expansion in the future. It is a little difficult to compare Northern Ireland with the rest of the United Kingdom in this matter because of the difference in structure, but we are making progress and intend to continue to do so.