§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply he has received from Oxfordshire county council to his letter requesting details of its decision to discontinue nursery classes.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI have been informed by the county secretary that the Oxfordshire county council has proposed to reduce expenditure on nursery education by £386,500 by 1982–83. This would involve the closure of several, but not all, of its nursery schools and nursery classes. The council has also instructed its chief education officer to prepare a report for consideration in the new year on the provision of alternative arrangements for the education of under-fives.