HC Deb 30 October 1984 vol 65 cc946-7W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities have reduced the number of places in day nurseries since 1979; and what has been the percentage reduction in each case.

Mr. John Patten

The following 36 out of 109 local authorities in England have reduced the number of places in their day nurseries between 31 March 1979 and 31 March 1983 by the percentages indicated. Overall, the number of local authority day nursery places in England rose by just over 1 per cent. (317 places) over the same period.

Local Authorities with reduction in local authority day nursery places 1979–1983
Percentage Reduction
Cleveland 37
South Tyneside 24
Humberside 9
Calderdale 38
Kirklees *11
Wakefield 22
Cheshire 18
Bolton 21
Oldham 11
Stockport *23
Trafford 41
Wirral 5
Shropshire 100
Coventry 11
Walsall 7
Nottinghamshire 9
Essex 2
Hertfordshire 17
Oxfordshire 5
Suffolk 13
Camden 1
Wandsworth 18
Westminster 11
Barking 7

Percentage Reduction
Bexley 10
Ealing 5
Harrow 7
Merton 10
Newham 9
Redbridge 30
Richmond 7
Hampshire 16
Kent †9
East Sussex 35
Devon 77
Gloucestershire 57
*1982 data.
†1981 data.