§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children now attend nursery schools in the Northern Region; and what is the number of new nursery schools and places approved for the next 12 months.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIn January 1972, the latest date for which information is available, 2,600 full-time pupils and nearly 3,000 part-time pupils were attending nursery schools and classes in the Northern Region and almost 25,000 children under five were in other classes in 379W primary schools. Since 1971, 2,145 additional nursery places have been approved under the urban programme for starting in the period to 31st March 1974. The total number of children aged three and four in the region is about 120,000.