Youngsters getting big boost—Mrs. Thatcher

Speaking to members of the Gravesend Conservatives Women's Advisory Committee in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Secretary for Education and Science said the Government was now spending more on children and young children than the Labour Party had ever planned to spend.

Mrs. Thatcher was speaking at a lunch held by the local Committee in the House.

“What we have tried to do is to switch the emphasis a little bit,” she said, “with not so much stress on higher education but putting a good deal more on these foundations.

“It has always been my view that unless you get a good chance in the early years of your education you might lose this chance forever.

“I can name every single teacher who taught me in state primary schools from the age of five to 11. I can tell you all their characteristics, those who were snappy and those who were nice. I can tell you, too, of those I could confide in and those I could confide in and those with whom you had to mind your P's and Q's.

“We must steadily involve parents more and more with the education of their children, particularly in the early stages and particularly those parents who lack confidence in dealing with children.

“There are still, I am the first to admit, some schools which need replacing and improving and we have quite a long way to go yet, even though we have in 1972–73 had the biggest school building programme of all time.”