§ 43. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the progress of nursery education in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend will not be satisfied until nursery education is available for all children whose parents want it. The progress which has been made since 1974 has nevertheless been substantial given our economic difficulties in this period. More than £50 million has been made available in nursery education building programmes and grants are also being made available this year for nursery projects through the urban aid and inner cities programmes. Between 1974 and 1977 the number of children in nursery education in England has risen by over half to 187,000 and there are a further 245,000 under-fives in ordinary infant classes in primary schools. This means that a total of 33 per cent. of 3 and 4-year-olds are receiving education and compares with the Plowden targets we have endorsed of providing nursery education for 50 per cent. of 3-year-olds and 90 per cent. of 4-year-olds.
Nursery education in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.