HC Deb 15 March 1988 vol 129 cc532-3W
32. Mr. Boateng

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take to ensure that nursery classes in primary schools are staffed as nursery and not as reception classes.

Mr. Dunn

None. Levels of staffing in schools are for determination by local education authorities and schools.

37. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to impose upon local education authorities a statutory duty to provide some form of nursery education to all children of three and four years of age whose parents wish them to benefit from it; and if he will make a statement.

82. Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish proposals to improve pre-school provision for children.

Mr. Dunn

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 19 January at column805

101. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how spending on nursery education has varied since 1979 with the number of children participating.

Mr. Dunn

Relevant current spending on under fives pupils in maintained nursery and primary schools in England rose by 22 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1985–86 while the number of pupils rose by 20 per cent..

1985–86 outturn 1986–87 outturn 1987–88 estimated outturn Per cent. increase 1985–86 to 1986–87 increase 1986–87 to 1987–88
£ million £ million £ million
Schools 8,596 9,597 10,633 11.6 10.8
Higher and Further Education 4,418 4,594 4,904 4.0 6.7
Miscellaneous education services, research and administration 826 892 975 8.0 9.3
13,840 15,083 16,512 9.0 9.5

These figures exclude expenditure by the research councils and related bodies.