HC Deb 13 December 1967 vol 756 cc171-2W
Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the proportion of children in the Hamilton constituency receiving nursery school education; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of nursery schools in this constituency;

(2) what is the proportion of children in Scotland receiving nursery school education; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of nursery schools in Scotland.

Mr. Ross:

In Scotland the proportion of children of nursery school age (above 2 and under 5) receiving nursery school education in education authority and grant-aided nursery schools and classes at January, 1966, was about 2. 1 per cent. In addition children of this age group attending registered independent schools were a further 0. 5 per cent. of the total child population of this age. Details of the population of this age in the

Mr. Ross:

The information is as follows:

Hamilton constituency are not available; there is only one education authority nursery school with 55 children.

The provision of schools of all kinds is in the first place a matter for education authorities. Whilst I would like to see an expansion of nursery school education, successive Governments have found it impossible since 1945 to permit this because of the overriding claims of other parts of the educational system.