§ 5. Mr. Allen McKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with local education authorities regarding the report on nursery education "Starting with Quality".
§ Mr. Eggar"Starting with Quality" dealt with the educational experiences of the under-fives across various settings. It has been sent to all local education and social services authorities for them to consider how it might be acted on in their areas.
§ Mr. McKayThe Minister will have noticed that the report says in its introduction that one of its terms of reference was quality, but that quantity should also be considered. What measures has he taken to ensure that local government has enough finance to carry on expanding nursery provision so that there is a nursery place for the child of every parent who wants one?
§ Mr. EggarThe answer is, a great deal. Over the past 10 years, the number of places available for nursery-age youngsters has increased by 150,000. This year alone we are providing local education authorities with £100 million more than what was spent last year on nursery education.
§ Mr. EvennettDoes my hon. Friend agree that universal provision of nursery education cannot be justified on grounds of cost, and that the present variety of provision for pre-school children is largely beneficial to the needs of children today?
§ Mr. EggarIt is certainly difficult to understand how the priorities of educational spending could extend to cover universal nursery education as against some sort of assistance for young people under the age of five either in day care on in pre-school playgroups. The Labour party takes that view as well—at least the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett), Opposition spokesman on public expenditure, shares that view. She made that very clear when she held my post about 12 years ago, when she could not find the resources either.
§ Ms. ArmstrongDoes the Minister recognise that if the Government were prepared to switch the money that they have so far earmarked for city technology colleges to nursery education, we could have another 20,000 places this year? When will the Government accept their responsibilities, listen to His Royal Highness and recognise that they are responsible for giving our children the best possible start in life?
§ Mr. EggarThe hon. Lady has not reached level 1 in maths. Even if the money were diverted from the CTC programme as her party advocates—it would amount to about £15 million a year at most—it would provide only 50 part-time nursery places for every local education authority in the country.
§ Mr. WaldenIs my hon. Friend aware that the introduction of sound and structured nursery education by a Conservative Government would be enormously popular with the women of this country who, I believe form an electoral majority? Is he also aware that royal assent for such a measure already exists in that the Prince of Wales recommended it in his speech yesterday? Will my hon. Friend talk——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Three questions are a bit much.
§ Mr. WaldenThere are many things, Mr. Speaker, of which my hon. Friend should be aware.
§ Mr. SpeakerHe may be made aware of two. Let us have the answer, please.