HC Deb 22 February 1945 vol 408 cc969-70W
Sir G. Mander

asked the Minister of Health if he will make arangements for war-time nurseries to remain in existence until the Ministry of Education or other interested parties shall have had an opportunity of taking over their work in part or in whole and until the position can be reviewed by his Department in the light of post-war needs.

Mr. Willink

I am in very close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education in regard to the establishment of nursery schools in the place of war-time nurseries, but I canot enter into any undertaking to keep war-time nur- series in existence indefinitely. These nurseries were not intended to meet a post-war need but the immediate need for more women in industry as an aid to war-time production, and I have no authority to provide nurseries at the cost of the Exchequer for other than war purposes.