HC Deb 14 June 1994 vol 244 cc502-4
4. Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the number of three and four-year-olds in pre-school education; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Robin Squire

My hon. Friend has made it clear that we are looking at possible ways to extend the opportunities for children under five, as resources allow and within our policy of promoting choice, diversity, quality and cost-effectiveness. We shall announce our conclusions when we are ready to do so.

Mr. Barnes

More than 20 years ago, when Lady Thatcher was Secretary of State for Education, she introduced a measure which became known as the kiddies charter and there was supposed to be an extension of nursery provision. The Government, which was partly her Government over the past 15 years, have failed abysmally to introduce measures to extend nursery provision. Is that not giving inertia a bad name?

Mr. Squire

I resent and resist the hon. Gentleman's comments. There has been significant progress in provision for the under-fives, including nursery education, over the past 15 years. The hon. Gentleman has to be very clear. In the language of today, he and his party must indicate where they intend to find money for a more rapid expansion of nursery education than we are likely to produce under the proposals that we are currently considering.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is my hon. Friend aware that the outgoing Ealing Conservative council increased the number of nursery places in Ealing by 400, at a cost of an extra £1 million in the past four years, to 3,870? Is he also aware that the Labour party promised a nursery place for all children under five in Ealing if it won the local election, which it did? Now it is refusing to do that, although it saw the books before it made the promise, to the fury of the parents of Willow Tree primary school and many others. It does not keep its promises.

Mr. Squire

I am delighted that my hon. Friend has confirmed two important points: first, the very good record of a number of Conservative councils in that particular area; secondly, directly echoing the points that I made to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes), whether or not the Labour party promises to do things before it gets into power, when it gets into power it suddenly seems to have an attack of amnesia.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

Does the Minister accept that we shall never have equality of opportunity for our children until we have universal nursery education? Why cannot Ministers give any lead in providing nursery education? Why is it that parents who live in a Labour council area have three times the chance of a nursery place for their children that they have if they live in a Conservative council area? Is not the lack of progress and the lack of commitment on the part of Government another reason why parents should have no confidence in the Secretary of State?

Mr. Squire

One of the many differences between the Labour party and the Government is that we are keen to see services expand as and when resources are available. Secondly, we shall be guided by choice and diversity; we do not believe that one unique form of state-funded provision is in all possible circumstances the right answer either for the children or for their parents.