HC Deb 12 July 1994 vol 246 cc822-3
13. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children aged under five years are currently in (a) nursery education and (b) other forms of child care; what percentage of children under five years this represents; what is the cost; and what were the equivalent figures in 1986 and 1976.

Mr. Robin Squire

In January 1993, almost 340,000 under-fives were in nursery schools and classes—26 per cent. of the population. Equivalent figures were 272,500—23 per cent.—in 1986, and 158,000–11 per cent.—in 1976. Separate expenditure information on nursery schools and classes has not been collected since 1986–87. Responsibility for day nurseries and other forms of day care lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

Mr. Greenway

May I congratulate my hon. Friend on that considerable progress in the important area of nursery education? Is he aware that in the London borough of Ealing the previous Conservative council increased the number of places in nursery schools by 400 over four years, to almost 3,000, making Ealing council's provision the fourth best among the London boroughs, yet that the Labour council refuses to implement its promise to provide more nursery education? The Labour party promised to do that if it won the local election, which, unfortunately, it did. Does not my hon. Friend think it a disgrace that Labour councillors do not know about keeping their promises? Is not it the children who suffer?

Mr. Squire

I am sure that my hon. Friend has already found many people in Ealing who look back with fond memory on their recently removed Conservative council, not least because of its tremendous performance on nursery education. My hon. Friend does the House a good service in reminding us to treat with great care promises that emanate from the Opposition, not least on nursery education.

Mr. Hardy

If the Minister congratulates Conservative councils that provide care for young children, will he condemn the many Conservative councils that do not?

Mr. Squire

Local education authorities' responsibility is to provide for the range of needs of the under-fives. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the properly elected council in Ealing determined that it should make significant provision for nursery education. It is possible that other councils elsewhere will choose different priorities—but they must make provision for the under-fives to meet the demand in their localities. That is their responsibility.