Layout Settings Not Allowing a HTML Space

[sports guy]

I am trying to add spaces to my layout setting area (Categories SubCategories Indent and another field on this page). Obviously I should be able to add this to the field:   or this for a double space:    and save right? Pretty simple in the past.

These areas did haves the space entered as default but I removed them during some testing. Now I want them back. When I add this coding    to this admin area and save it creates this:

  

and no spaces happen where they should.

It won't let me put the standard coding in the field it converts the & symbol to the html version. And it does not add the space if I put the cursor in the box and hit the space bar then save. It just stays blank. This seems like a bug to me. How can I enter the space coding and have it properly convert? Never had this before something is funny.

See attached image below please.