§ 28. Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to issue her new circular with regard to provision for the under-fives.
§ 29. Mr. Ivor Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given over the past year to local education authorities about the provision of nursery education.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Social Services now expect their joint circular letter on provision for the under-fives to issue early in the New Year. A joint circular letter urging co-ordination of local authority services for the under fives issued in March 1976 and a number of letters have been sent to local education authorities since then about the nursery building programme. Authorities were advised that, in making building programme allocations, preference would be given to schemes making provision for children with social and educational disadvantages or for young handicapped children; and they were encouraged to consider carefully the opportunity afforded by the reduction in primary school numbers in certain areas to adapt existing accommodation relatively cheaply for nursery use. Report on Education, No. 91, "Nursery Education", which was published in July, gave advice on converting primary school classrooms.
The Secretary of State for the Environment will, following consultation with my right hon. Friend, be issuing a circular very soon which will advise local 170W authorities of the availability of grant aid under the urban aid and inner city partnership programmes in respect of both capital and revenue expenditure incurred on new projects for the under fives in areas of special social need. Grants under this programme will also be available towards the recurrent cost of staffing and maintaining existing nursery units which have not hitherto been taken into use and for which authorities have not previously incurred relevant expenditure without the benefit of grant.
§ 49. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions she has had with the Inner London Education Authority and the outer London boroughs on the projected closure of nursery schools in their areas; and how many such schools are affected to date by these proposals in the Greater London area.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThere have been no such discussions. The closure of nursery schools is not subject to statutory requirements and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene.