32.
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.
None. Levels of staffing in schools are for determination by local education authorities and schools.
37.
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.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish proposals to improve pre-school provision for children.
I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 19 January at column 805
101.
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.
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 |