HC Deb 26 July 1988 vol 138 cc156-7W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of under-fives who received nursery education in the whole of the United Kingdom for each year since 1974;

(2) what information he has as to the proportion of education expenditure dedicated to nursery education in percentages in (a) Belgium, (b) Canada, (c) Denmark, (d) France, (e) the Federal Republic of Germany, (f) the Netherlands, (g) Portugal, (h) Spain, (i) the United Kingdom and (j) Sweden;

(3) what information he has on the per capita expenditure on nursery education for each year since 1974, in (a) Belgium, (b) Canada, (c) Denmark, (d) France, (e) the Federal Republic of Germany, (f) the Netherlands, (g) Portugal, (h) Spain, (i) the United Kingdom and (j) Sweden.

Mrs. Rumbold

[holding answer 25 July 1988]: The forms of pre-compulsory provision vary between and within countries, as does practice in the age and times of year at which children are admitted to compulsory education. For the United Kingdom this is five years of age, whereas for other countries it is six or even seven. For the United Kingdom, available data for pupils aged under five in education are as follows:

The information in the tables excludes day-care nurseries and playgroups which are registered with local health authorities.

Information on per capita expenditure on pre-compulsory education is not available. The percentages of public expenditure allocated to pre-compulsory education in the overseas countries mentioned are as follows:

Public1 sector current expenditure on pre-compulsory education as a percentage of all current public expenditure
Country2 Year Age at which compulsory schooling starts Percentage pre-school level Percentage not distributed by level
France3 1982 6 8.4 5.5
Germany, Federal Republic of 1984 6 3.5 4.3
Netherlands 1984 6 5.2 7.1
Portugal 1983 6 0.1 4.5
Spain 1979 6 3.5 2.6
United Kingdom 1984 5 2.6 9.0
Sweden 1984 7 0.1 7.9

Source: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook.

1 It should be noted that in some countries the division between public and private sectors can be blurred, as some Governments may subsidise private arrangements.

2 Expenditure on pre-school education is not separately identified for Belgium, Canada and Denmark.

3 Metropolitan France.