§ 19. Mr. Sidney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of children in the City of Birmingham receiving nursery education and in other pre-school groups; how this figure compares with a year before; and what is her estimate of the figures a year hence.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIn January 1973 there were about 9,000 pupils under five in maintained primary and nursery schools, 1,000 more than a year earlier. The local education authority expects a further increase of about 1,000 pupils by January 1974.
§ Mr. ChapmanWhile I welcome that trend and know that my hon. Friend understands the desperate need for educational and child-minding facilities for the under-fives, at least in parts of that city, may I ask him to arrange for the closest co-ordination between other Government Departments and the local authority to see that as many of these places as possible go to the parts of the city where there is most need, particularly those parts which have social problems?
§ Mr. St. John-StevasI am aware of the social problems in parts of Birmingham. Of the under-fives in school in January this year, nearly half were in nursery schools or classes and the rest were in other classes in primary schools.