§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of those aged three and four 593W in Scotland in nurseries, pre-school playgroups or other forms of education (a) at the latest available date, (b) five, (c) 10 and (d) 15 years ago, expressed numerically and as a percentage of the age group; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe numbers of children aged three and four years (at December each year) in nursery, special and primary schools in September 1972, 1977, 1982 and 1987 were 21,880, 40,570, 45,010 and 50,070 respectively which were 12.3, 28.4, 36.5 and 39.7 per cent. of the population respectively. In addition, in 1987 there were 43.430 places in pre-school playgroups and 4,470 in day nurseries, children's centres and family centres; information on pupil numbers is not available for these establishments. It is estimated that in total about 80 per cent. of three and four-year-olds were involved in one of the above mentioned forms of activity in 1987.