§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of the Government towards preschool education and playgroups; what is the current level of support compared with last year and the estimated expenditure for next year; and what proportion of eligible children benefit from these facilities.
289W
§ Miss Margaret JacksonAs regards education for children under five I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 30th March to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) and the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton).—[Vol. 908, c. 1088–90.] Local education authorities in England spent—at 1975 survey prices—£90.4 million (current) and £15.2 million (capital) on the education of children under five in 1974–75, the latest year for which figures are available. Forecast expenditure figures for Great Britain in years subsequent to that were given in the recent White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 6393): for England these figures for 1976–77 and 1977–78 respectively were £120.9 million and £125.8 million (current) and £15.8 million and £8.3 million (capital). In January 1975 the total number of full and part-time pupils in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools represented 10 per cent. of the eligible age group; a further 20 per cent. including rising-fives, were attending other classes in maintained primary schools. Playgroups are voluntarily provided, though they may receive support from local authorities; the Government recognise that they make a significant and valuable contribution to care for under-fives and support for the development of the playgroup movement generally is provided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.