§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has had from the Oldham local education authority for improvements in the provision for nursery school education in the Failsworth area of the Oldham local education authority.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Oldham local education authority has not yet submitted a bid for resources under my Department's 1979–80 nursery education building programme. However, I understand from the authority that it is planning to provide a new nursery unit at St. Mary's R.C. infants school, Failsworth, out of resources made available under the 1979–80 urban aid programme.
§ Mr. MorrisIs it not appalling that provision of nursery school education in the Failsworth area should depend on the incidental availability of inner city funds? Bearing in mind the contribution that nursery education makes to the future academic well-being of all children, will the Minister encourage his right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State to re-think the appalling statement made this afternoon with regard to nursery school provision generally?
§ Mr. MacfarlaneIf the previous Administration had left this country in some economic shape the programme could, perhaps, proceed within the resources we would like to see made available. I tell the right hon. Gentleman, before his synthetic indignation goes further, that statistics 1096 show that 16.5 per cent. of 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds within the Oldham local education authority are receiving nursery education. The equivalent percentages are 12.5 per cent., for all non-metropolitan boroughs, and 17 per cent. for England as a whole.
§ Mrs. Kellett-Bowmanrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I shall call the hon. Lady, but she should realise that her question must relate to Oldham.
§ Mrs. Kellett-BowmanIt is adjoining, Mr. Speaker. I intended to ask—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There is yet another area adjoining that.
§ Mrs. Kellett-BowmanDoes the Minister agree that the most cost-effective way of providing nursery school places in Oldham, as in other areas, is by the addition of nursery classes to primary schools rather than by building new nursery schools? As rolls are now falling, particularly in the North-West, will he encourages local education authorities to do just that?
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThis subject was touched upon at Question Time in May. It is one of the matters that the Department of Education and Science is currently considering. This is undoubtedly an area at which we could look to try to ensure that local authorities and schools can convert existing places in primary schools into nursery classes.