HC Deb 14 November 1978 vol 958 cc212-4W
Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of tSate for Wales how many children under the age of five years in Wales receive bilingual nursery education; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Barry Jones

The information is not available in the form requested. In September 1977, the latest date for which information is available, there were 911 infant and nursery classes in primary schools in which Welsh was used as the medium of teaching to a greater or lesser extent.

My right hon. and learned Friend's policy is that local education authorities should make provision for bi-lingual education, including bilingual nursery education, having regard to the linguistic characteristics of the particular area and to parental wishes.

Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children under the age of five years in Wales receive nursery education; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Barry Jones

The information is not available in the form requested since the available data do not enable a breakdown to be made of children under five attending primary schools into those in nursery classes and those in primary classes.

The table below shows the numbers of under fives attending maintained nursery and primary schools in Wales for January 1969 to 1978.

Year Nursery Schools Primary Schools Totals
1969 2,647 26,799 29,446
1970 2,730 27,237 29,967
1971 2,893 28,743 31,636
1972 3,188 30,559 33,747
1973 3,584 34,072 37,656
1974 4,300 36,598 40,898
1975 4,451 39,057 43,508
1976 4,495 43,216 47,711
1977 4,442 41,373 45,815
1978 4,549 41,003 45,552

NOTE: Ages as at 31st December of the preceding year.