§ 43. Miss Lestorasked the Minister of Health, in view of the concern expressed by many local authorities regarding the unregistered child minder, whether he will take steps to ensure that the present-day nursery building programmes of local authorities are fully implemented without delay and extended to meet the growing demand.
§ Mr. LoughlinLocal authorities' ten-year plans envisage an increase of 68 in the number of day nurseries between 1965–66 and 1975–76. Thirty-two day nurseries are included among the capital building projects for which my right hon. Friend hopes to recommend loan sanction this year and in 1967–68. He will review the programmes again early next year.
§ Miss LestorI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but is he not aware that because the demand for these places exceeds the supply there is a growing mushrooming of rather unsatisfactory child-minding services now? Would he therefore give an assurance to the House that there is no plan to cut this nursery building programme in the foreseeable future?
§ Mr. LoughlinWe consulted local health authorities in 1965 and asked them to review the arrangements in force in their areas under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act. A small num- 928 ber of local authorities raised the question of unsatisfactory and illegal minding. I would not like the House to get this out of all proportion. We shall keep watching the position.