HC Deb 21 May 1953 vol 515 cc2228-9
4. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Health how many day nurseries there were in Kent on 1st May, 1951; how this figure compares with 1st May, 1953; and what decisions have been made as to the future of those still open.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

There were 15 on 1st May, 1951, and two on 1st May, 1953. My right hon. Friend has approved the county council's proposals for closing the remaining day nurseries and instituting a scheme of registered daily minders.

Mr. Dodds

Is it not a ruthless and heartless policy that the whole of Kent should be without one day nursery? Is the hon. Lady aware that in the report of the Kent County Council Health Committee the medical officer stated that if the day nursery service was entirely terminated the Minister of Health might take the view that the county council was failing in its duty under the National Health Service? Is it not the Minister of Health who is responsible for this heartless policy, which makes the child-minding service an absolute farce?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

The hon. Member knows perfectly well that the record of the day nurseries in Kent certainly does not bear out the comments in his supplementary question. It was on the direct intervention of my right hon. Friend who is now the Lord Privy Seal that five of the Kent day nurseries were kept open for 12 months when the county council had requested that they should be closed. So the hon. Member's allegations against my right hon. Friend are quite unfounded. Beyond that, our experience in the last year was that all the people but three who ceased to make use of the day nurseries were able to make suitable alternative arrangements. Out of 160, only three stopped working; the others made alternative arrangements and were able to carry on working.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Would not the hon. Lady agree that child-minding schemes are a very poor second-best to day nursery schemes and are much more costly to the individuals concerned, as the L.C.C. schemes have shown?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend has called for a report about the working of the child-minding schemes, but we have no evidence that they are working badly under the aegis of the London County Council.

Mr. Dodds

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

It seemed to me to be a matter more worthy of a prolonged debate than questions.