HC Deb 23 June 1992 vol 210 cc131-2
11. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to expand the provision of nursery education; and if he will make a statement.

12. Mr. Brandreth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the change in the provision of nursery education, both independent and state funded, since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forman

It is for local authorities to determine the extent and form of their provision for under-fives. Between 1979 and 1991, the number of under-fives in maintained schools in England rose from 429,000 to 604,000, while the number in independent schools rose from 28,000 to 45,000 —an increase of nearly 200,000 children in all.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is it not an abdication of duty for the Government always to seek to say that it is solely for local authorities to make provision for nursery education? Will the Minister be more positive about what the Government plan to do to encourage and promote the provision of nursery education throughout Britain? Does he accept that there are great variations in provision from one end of the country to the other and that in some areas it is inadequate? Is not one of the best ways of increasing the life chances of children from underpriviliged families to give them statutory access to nursery places if they wish to take them up?

Mr. Forman

The hon. Gentleman should know that the provision of nursery education has increased under the Government from four in 10 to five in 10, which is a very satisfactory increase. He should also take account of the fact that the policy on which his party fought the previous election would have involved a considerable increase in expenditure on such matters—in excess of £500 million —money which could well be spent by local authorities for other purposes within the education budget.

Mr. Brandreth

Although I warmly welcome the increase in expenditure and the diversity in recent years in nursery provision, whereby we are now spending about £740 million a year on the under-fives—

Hon. Members

Question.

Madam Speaker

Order. I am very keen to get through the Order Paper and I do not like long statements. Straight into the question please.

Mr. Brandreth

The question is, does not my hon. Friend welcome that expenditure, because nursery education is the bedrock of education and represents enormous value for money?

Mr. Forman

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to draw attention to the importance of diverse provision for the under-fives. If one considers the international figures, one finds that this country compares very well with our European partners. If one also includes day care, the figure for the relevant age which is covered is about nine in 10.

Ms. Armstrong

Will the Minister recognise that almost all the increase there has been because the commitment of Labour authorities to ensure that they offer children—

Mr. Patten

Question.

Madam Speaker

Order. If the hon. Lady is not directly putting a question, I must ask her to do so.

Ms. Armstrong

I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I suspect that the Secretary of State did not hear. I asked, will the Minister—[Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. We all want to hear, including the Secretary of State.

Ms. Armstrong

Will the Minister recognise that fact, and will he commit himself to ensuring that every child in the nation gets the opportunity to receive publicly funded nursery education as the very best start for his education life?

Mr. Forman

That intervention from the Labour Front Bench was a bit rich, when one recalls that under the previous Labour Government, whom I imagine the hon. Lady supported, the funding for nursery provision was cut substantially from 1976 to 1978.