§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will detail the number of children in nursery classes or pre-school play groups in each of the past 10 years up to the latest date for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe numbers of full-time and part-time pupils under five years of age in maintained nursery and primary schools in England are as follows:186W
Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools Infant classes in primary schools Total January 1973 110,315 245,465 355,780 1974 123,439 260,466 383,905 1975 137,918 265,968 403,886 1976 157,550 282,449 439,999 1977 186,813 244,858 431,671 1978 201,337 213,728 415,065 1979 210,248 218,392 428,640 1980 215,451 213,469 428,920 1981 221,590 206,507 428,097 1982 235,401 201,279 436,680 Information about numbers of children in pre-school play groups is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.