§ Mr. Oldfieldasked the Minister of Education how many war-time nurseries for children of two to five years of age are being run by his Department; how many children are in them; what is the ratio of staff to children; the estimated gross cost per child per week; and the number of mothers who are released for war work.
§ Mr. EdeIn the month ending 30th September, 1944, there were 784 war-time nursery classes attached to infant schools providing accommodation for 38,850 children between the ages of two and five. In addition, 396 ordinary nursery classes had been extended to meet the needs of women workers, either by admitting children aged two or by opening for longer hours, or in both ways. The ratio of staff to children varies but is usually about one to eight or ten. Approved expenditure on these classes is reimbursed by the Ministry of Health as for war-time nurseries conducted by the welfare authorities under the Ministry of Health. I understand that it is not possible, without a special inquiry involving considerable labour, to give a separate figure for the cost per child in the war-time nursery classes. Similarly, it is not possible to give the number of mothers who are released for war work through the provision of these classes.