§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement about the future of nursery provision in the Ponthir area of Torfaen; [3570]
(2) if he will make a statement about the future of nursery provision in Monmouthshire. [3569]
§ Mr. HainThe provision of nursery education is at the discretion of local education authorities. Our aim is to ensure a free, at least part-time, place for every four-year-old whose parents want one, with targets for extending provision to three-year-olds. We shall be consulting shortly with the local authority sector and interested organisations about arrangements for early years education from April 1998.
I understand that nursery age children from Ponthir are currently receiving education in the Newport county borough council area under an arrangement with Torfaen county borough council. Torfaen will be reviewing the position for the 1997–98 school year.