§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland who attend(a) nursery education, (b) pre-school playgroups or (c) primary school;
(2) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of three-year-olds in. Northern Ireland who attend (a) nursery education, (b) pre-school playgroups or (c) primary school.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe available information is as follows:
Numbers of three and four-year-olds in education in 1986–87 Age three Age four Full time Part time Full time Part time Nursery schools 1,232 1,464 1,321 715 Nursery classes in primary schools 1,017 361 783 215 Primary schools (primary classes only) 106 — 16,859 — The information on pre-school playgroups is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 June 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of children under five years of age who attended pre-school playgroups, including playbuses, was 12,954.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the proportion of three-year-olds in Northern Ireland(a) in single parent families, (b) whose parents are unemployed and (c) whose parents receive family income supplement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe information is not available. However the proportion of three-year-olds in families receiving one parent benefit is approximately one in 17 of all three-year-old children in families receiving child benefit.