§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Education (1) if he is aware that the Kent Education Committee, without consulting the Divisional Executive, decided 89W to close down the Bedonwell Hill Nursery School, Belvedere, which has 90 places and a waiting list of 200 and was opened 10 years ago; and if he will take the necessary action to ensure that the provisions in Section 13 (1) and (3) of the Education Act, 1944, are followed, and that parents are enabled to make their objections known;
(2) if he is aware of the widespread concern in Kent at the decision of the Kent Education Committee to close down all nursery classes in the county; that this has been decided without consulting the Divisional Executive; and whether he will intervene, with a view to having this decision reconsidered.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI am aware of, and deplore, the Kent local education authority's decision to close their nursery schools and classes, regardless of the particular circumstances. Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944, does not apply. I am, however, asking the authority to reconsider their decision.