HL Deb 12 December 1979 vol 403 c1358WA
Baroness SEEAR

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the decision of the Oxfordshire County Council to close all nursery schools and classes is compatible with the policy of the Government, and if not whether the Secretary of State will endeavour to persuade the county council to reverse its decision.

Baroness YOUNG

The Rate Support Grant calculations for 1980–81 assumed that expenditure on nursery education over the country as a whole would be maintained at broadly the 1979–80 level. The decisions taken by the Oxfordshire County Council in order to effect expenditure reductions would result in the eventual closure of existing nursery schools and classes but the county council has asked the Education Committee to submit proposals on future provision for the education of the under-fives and my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science will be inviting representatives of Oxfordshire to discuss their proposals with him.