HC Deb 06 July 1976 vol 914 cc1151-2
8. Miss Joan Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the 1975–76 money, originally allocated for nursery education but refunded by some local authorities, has been reallocated to other local authorities.

Miss Margaret Jackson

As I stated in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend on 23rd June, £1.7 million of the capital authorisation relinquished was reallocated to local education authorities in England requesting additional resources for nursery education building starts in 1975–76.

Miss Lestor

Does my hon. Friend agree that some of the money originally allocated for nursery education—apart from the reallocation to other local authorities—has not been used? Bearing in mind the statement in the Government's White Paper on Public Expenditure, that despite the cut-backs in capital expenditure on provision for the under-fives, it was still possible to ensure acceptable standards of accommodation in areas of greatest need, what is being done to ensure that these areas are making provision for pre-school children?

Miss Jackson

As my hon. Friend knows, we do all that we can to encourage authorities in such areas to apply for provision. I think she will find that in general the authorities that apply for reallocated funds are those with the greatest needs. It is in such areas that the extra money is being spent. However, my hon. Friend is correct in her supposition that not all of the money allocated for nursery education has been spent in that area during the past year. We regret that as much as my hon. Friend does, but, as she knows—I am sorry to have to reiterate this—it is for the local authorities to decide whether they wish to spend this money.

Mrs. Renée Short

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is time that the Department took some action in respect of the local authorities that are not carrying out Government policy? Will she give an undertaking that the nursery school expansion programme, such as now exists, will continue?

Miss Jackson

Like my hon. Friend, I frequently wish that we could do more to ensure that local authorities use this money. They could use it, for example, to employ teachers. My hon. Friend will know that as the law stands we can only seek to give them all the encouragment that we can. Indeed, we seek to encourage them to spend the money on nursery education and employing teachers. However, we have no power to oblige them to do so.