§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the effects of the public service workers' strike on the education service in Cheshire.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIndustrial action by public service workers has so far had a relatively minor effect on the education service in Cheshire but this varies from day to day. Last Thursday, 1 February, no schools were closed but in the Crewe and Nantwich district dustmen belonging to NUPE refused to empty more than one dustbin from each school. At one school, Wistaston Green county junior school, children had to eat meals in classrooms because NUPE caretakers refused to put up tables and evening classes held in Coppenhall county high school were cancelled because of an overtime ban by NUPE caretakers.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the rate of provision of nursery schools places in Cheshire; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend will not be satisfied until nursery education is made available for all three-and four-year-olds who want it. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the provision it wishes to make within its own area. In Cheshire the authority failed to take up the allocation made to it under the 1976–77 building programme and made no bid for 1977–78. It received an allocation for 1978–79, and also bid successfully for a nursery project under the urban aid programme in 1978–79. A further application has been submitted under this programme for 1979–80, though no bid has been made for the main building programme.