40. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Wartime Nursery Scheme in Scotland terminates at the end of March; that the consequent closing down of many nurseries will prevent married women with children from continuing in employment in response to the recent appeal by the Prime Minister; and what steps does he intend to take to make it possible for these married women, who desire to do so, to continue at work.
§ Mr. WestwoodIn December last I asked local authorities to consider, in conjunction with the education authorities, and in relation to the need in their areas, which of the wartime nurseries should be continued, cither as day nurseries or as nursery schools. Local authorities were informed that a special Exchequer grant of 50 per cent would be available to them in respect of approved expenditure on wartime nurseries retained as day nurseries under these arrangements The usual education grants are, of course, available for nursery schools.
Lieut.-Commander HutchisonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it regrettable that the Government should do away with the 100 per cent, grant, thereby impeding their own production campaign?
§ Mr. WestwoodI do not think it would impede the production campaign, or the results following that campaign. Local authorities used to be paid under the block grant system for their day nurseries; now they are getting a special grant of 50 per cent., and I can hold out no hope of increasing it. A grant of 100 per cent, cannot be justified.