§ 5. Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby)What representations he has received about primary school class sizes in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [45903]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain)Hon. Members, school governors, head teachers, class teachers, parents and local authorities have all written supporting the policy to reduce infant classes to a maximum of 30 pupils, but not at the expense of larger junior-age classes.
§ Mr. RobathanCan the Minister confirm that, far from going down, some class sizes are going up? Would the hon. Gentleman care to comment on the card I have which says:
Keep this card and see that we keep our promises.It says that new Labour's early pledges include cutting class sizes to 30 or under for five, six and seven-year-olds. The national assembly is wanted by only one in four Welsh people. Would it not be better to spend the money intended for the national assembly and associated events on cutting class sizes in Wales?
§ Mr. HainI admire the hon. Gentleman's cheek. The Government whom he supported before 1 May last year presided over record class sizes and left us with a legacy, with which we are having to grapple, whereby there are now 35,000 infants in classes of more than 30. There are 1,000 classes in Wales and 35,000 pupils. We are reducing class sizes by abolishing the assisted places scheme which funded a privileged education for a tiny minority of pupils—only 1,000—at the expense of everybody else.
§ Mr. Huw Edwards (Monmouth)Does my hon. Friend agree that this Government at least have a pledge to reduce class sizes, whereas the Conservative party has no such commitment, and went into the election without one? May I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the problems of Ponthir school in my constituency, which is bursting at the seams because of a housing development approved by the Welsh Office before the last election? Will my right hon. Friend give serious consideration to the staffing and physical conditions of that school?
§ Mr. HainThis is not only a pledge on which we were elected but a pledge on which we intend to deliver. We intend to deliver class sizes of under 30 for five, six and seven-year-olds [HON. MEMBERS: "When?"] I will tell hon. Members when. It will be by the next election. By that time, we will have eradicated the dreadful legacy of 35,000 infants in Wales in large classes. My hon. Friend asked about his local school, and I will, of course, look into the matter.