Education policy `number one'

UNDER a Labour government, education would be our number one policy"

UNDER a Labour government, education would be our number one policy". The Labour Party said yesterday it would give "a strong and consistent lead to help raise standards in every school". Grant maintained schools would not be closed and funding would not discriminate between pupils attending this type of school and state schools.

The Nursery Vouchers scheme, introduced by the Tories, would be scrapped. Instead, a Labour government would use the money saved to "guarantee" places for four-year-olds.

Selected local authorities will be invited to pilot early excellence centres, combining education and care for the under-fives.

Targets will be set for a "universal provision" for three-year-olds whose parents want it, according to the manifesto.

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Class sizes will be reduced to 30 or under for five-year-olds, six-year-olds and seven-year-olds. This will be achieved by phasing out the assisted places scheme.

Labour has also agreed a scheme with British Telecom to link schools to the Information Super Highway. Successful schools will be encouraged to take over failing schools.

KEY POINTS

. Education: Labour's "number one priority". More to be spent on schooling and a new university for industry.

. Tax and spending: No increase in income tax, sticking to existing spending limits, tough inflation targets and windfall levy on privatised utilities.

. Business and industry: A national minimum wage and help for small businesses.

. Jobs: A welfare-to-work programme to get 250,000 unemployed young people into jobs.

. Health: Year-on-year increases in NHS spending and cutting waiting lists by 100,000.

. Law and order: Fast-track punishment for persistent young offenders.

. Politics and government: Scrap voting rights of hereditary peers and devolution for Scotland and Wales.

. International: A referendum on single European currency.