Mrs. Thatcher quizzed by TV audience

Nursery schools and play groups for the under-fives is one of the major problems the Government means to tackle without delay, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Minister for Education and M.P. for Finchley and Friern Barnet, said on television last Friday.

Mrs. Thatcher was taking part in the popular Thames Television “To-day” programme with Eamonn Andrews in the chair. She answered many questions from a live audience which included parents, teachers and students.

The decision to abolish free milk was one of the main topics and Mrs. Thatcher told her audience that she had visited many schools in recent weeks and discussed this problem with parents.

“Most parents I met said they wouldn't mind paying for milk if it was on sale at the schools. There is nothing to stop local authorities providing this service,” she explained.

Mrs. Thatcher said that councils could use the penny rate for providing milk. “Some councils are doing this but many have used the rate for other purposes,” she told another questioner.