asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of free nursery education should be provided under the provisions of the Education Act 1944.

The adequacy of an authority's provision for junior pupils under five has to be measured against the requirements of section 8(1)(a) of the Education Act 1944. Section 8(2)(b) places an obligation on authorities to have regard to the need to make such provision in the form of nursery schools or nursery classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any proposals to allow local education authorities to charge for nursery education.

None at present.