§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received following the decision to prevent pre-rising 5s from starting school in 1976; and what reply he has made.
§ Miss Joan LestorMany letters have been received in protest against economies in education expenditure, and a substantial proportion have referred to provision for the under-5s. Replies have emphasised the provisional status of the advice in the Department's Circular 10/75; the objective is to moderate the rate of growth of education expenditure, not to put it into reverse in real terms responsibility for decisions lies ultimately with individual local authorities.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any local education authorities have informed him that they intend to continue admitting pre-rising 5s to school in 1976.
§ Miss Joan LestorNo. They are not required to offer such information to the Department.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated saving in public expendi- 552W ture in preventing local education authorities from admitting pre-rising 5s to school.
§ Miss Joan LestorIf all local authorities were to refuse admission of pre-rising 5s to infant classes, and if they secured savings in proportion to the resultant diminution in numbers attending primary school, the total saving would be of the order of £25 million.