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Infant Teachers

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were in post in infant classes in (a) January 1998 and (b) January 1999. [97757]

Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 8 November 1999]: We do not collect information on the number of teachers in post in infant classes.

The available information relates to the number of teachers employed in all classes in maintained primary and nursery schools and is shown in the table.

January each year	Number of teachers
1999	200,400
1998	198,400

9 Nov 1999 : Column: 532

The figures are derived from the annual return about teachers in service made by local education authorities.

We have provided funding for 4,500 extra teachers from September 1999 to implement our infant class size pledge. Of this number, 1,500 had been funded from September 1998 as well.

WALES

Fireworks

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to restrict the periods of (a) display and (b) sale of fireworks to the period immediately preceding 5 November and the new Millennium. [97898]

Mr. Paul Murphy: These are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry.

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