To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what extra resources he is proposing to devote to the promotion, development and provision of local authority nursery places in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his policy regarding promoting an increase in local education authority provision of nursery places in Scotland;(3) what research he is currently undertaking to estimate the demand for local authority nursery places in Scotland;(4) what targets he has set for the increase in provision of local authority nursery education over the next five years.
[holding answer 20 December 1989]: It is for education authorities themselves to determine, within the resources available to them, the level of nursery education places they wish to provide for their area, having regard to local circumstances and competing priorities. They are also responsible for estimating demand and setting any targets.
| UDG/URG applications 1987–88 | UDG/URG approvals 1987–88 | City grant applications 1988–89 | City grant approvals 1988–89 | |
| Barnsley | — | — | 2 | — |
| Birmingham | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Blackburn | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Bolton | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Bradford | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Brent | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Bristol | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Burnley | — | — | — | — |
| Coventry | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Derby | — | — | 10 | 2 |
| Doncaster | — | — | — | — |
| Dudley | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Gateshead | — | — | 2 | — |
| Greenwich | — | — | 2 | — |
| Hackney | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Halton | — | — | 1 | — |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | — | — | — | — |
| Haringey | 1 | — | — | — |
| Hartlepool | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| Islington | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Kensington and Chelsea | — | 1 | — | — |