Nursery Education (Hansard, 1 November 1994)

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to improve the funding available for nursery education.

§ Mr. Forth
My right hon. Friend is now consulting widely a range of interests in pre-school education with a view to drawing up detailed proposals on how to achieve the target for expansion of pre-school provision set by the Prime Minister. The need for additional funding will be determined as part of the development of these proposals.

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the percentage of three and four-year-old children receiving full-time nursery provision.

§ Mr. Forth
At January 1994, 3 per cent. of three and four-year-olds attended nursery classes full-time and 24 per cent. attended such classes part-time. A further 25 per cent. of this age group were in attendance at other infant classes, 23 per cent. full-time and 2 per cent. part-time.

§ Mr. Harry Greenway
To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she expects to announce details for further provision of nursery education; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Robin Squire
The Prime Minister recently reaffirmed the Government's firm commitment to pre-school education. He set a target to provide, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish them to take it up. My right hon. Friend is now consulting widely with a view to drawing up detailed proposals on the expansion. She will make an announcement as soon as practicable.