HC Deb 14 January 1998 vol 304 c350
Q11. Mr. Bob Russell

What plans he has to visit Colchester.

The Prime Minister

I do not have any plans at the moment. I am making many visits, but not to that particular place. [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. Opposition Members are impossibly badly behaved. [Interruption.] Order. Otherwise, Mr. Blunt, I shall send you out for the rest of the day.

The Prime Minister

I have no plans to visit Colchester.

Mr. Russell

I am disappointed that the Prime Minister will not be able to come to Colchester. Will he give me a message to take back to the parents at the Mulberry Tree day nursery that is facing closure because of the Government's failure to provide sufficient resources to Essex county council whose Labour social services committee is planning to shut the nursery? What advice does the Prime Minister have for those parents, many of whom are lone parents?

The Prime Minister

I do not know the particular circumstances of that day nursery. However, under the settlement announced a few weeks ago by the Deputy Prime Minister, more money will go to social services, and additional money will go to education. A vast sum of additional money will go to education next year.

I understand that there will be difficulties in particular areas, but I say to the parents of the nursery to which the hon. Gentleman referred and to other parents: yes, it will take time to put right the position that we have inherited, but we are putting it right. In the end, those parents will be able to see that the education system, like the national health service, has been improved by a Government who care about both.

Madam Speaker

Order. Time is up. We now come to a statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. [Interruption.] Order. Will hon. Members who are leaving do so quietly? [Interruption.] Order. Will hon. Members have their conversations outside the Chamber, please? [Interruption.] Order. Hon. Members should not walk in front of the Front Bench when I am waiting for a statement from the Secretary of State, and they should not move in front of the Secretary of State when I have called him.