HC Deb 12 May 1987 vol 116 cc133-4W
Mr. Nellist

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.

Mrs. Currie

Thirty-six local authorities in England reduced the number of their day nursery places between 1981 and 1986; the percentage reduction in each case is given in the table. Detailed information for 1979 and 1980 is not readily available.

The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Percentage change in local authority provided day nursery places for authorities which reduced their provision between 1981 and 1986
Local authority Percentage change 1981–861
Durham -13.3
North Tyneside 2-1.1
South Tyneside -39.0
Sheffield -5.4
Wakefield 2-71.4
Cheshire -1.8
Bolton -12.6
Oldham -8.6
Stockport -7.9
Knowsley -35.7
St. Helens 2-9.1
Wirral -4.5
Coventry -24.1
Nottinghamshire -1.8
Berkshire 2-62.7
Cambridgeshire -2.8
Hertfordshire -46.4
Suffolk 2-100.0
Hammersmith -9.3
Wandsworth -6.6
Westminster -8.0
Barking -10.3
Ealing -2.8
Enfield -4.8
Havering -18.4
Hillingdon -19.6
Merton -14.4
Newham -1.2
Richmond upon Thames -4.6
Waltham Forest -1.8
Dorset -4.8
Hampshire -7.1
Kent 2-53.1
East Sussex -40.9
Devon 2-75.7
Gloucestershire 2-54.7
1 For some authorities the percentage change is based on estimated figures for 1981 and 1986.
2 In these authorities there were less than 100 day nursery places provided by the local authority in 1986 and so the percentage changes are based on relatively small numbers.