asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of nursery school places available for children under 4 years of age in the Thanet area at the present time; how this compares with the previous 12 months; and what number is intended for the next 12 months.

The information asked for is not collected on a district basis by my Department. In Kent as a whole there were, in January 1974, 23 full-time equivalent nursery school places and 189 full-time equivalent primary school places occupied by children under 4 years of age. As regards future provision, it is for the local education authority to decide what individual projects should be started within its allocation for nursery education building.