§ 9. Mr. Ormeasked the Minister of Health if he will seek statutory powers to enable him to keep open day nurseries that are serving an urgent social need.
§ 61. Mr. Croninasked the Minister of Health if he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to keep open day nurseries that are serving an urgent social need.
§ Mr. SnowIt is the statutory responsibility of each local health authority to decide, in the light of its available resources, to what extent it should provide day nurseries.
§ Mr. OrmeIs my hon. Friend aware that, to save a matter of a farthing rate, the Salford City Council has closed a priority nursery at Eccles Old Road, Salford, which is serving mothers, some of them unmarried, and others in urgent need of this service? What does he intend to do about it?
§ Mr. SnowIf the Eccles Old Road day nursery is closed, in the area represented by my hon. Friend 95 places will be provided by the local authority and a total of 357 other places under various private arrangements. My hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that we confine to local authorities the provision of this sort of 1238 day nursery for children who are in need of care for social and health reasons. If he is right in saying that for a small local authority levy much more could be done, that is a matter for local responsibility, and we will do our best to encourage further provision ourselves.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunIs my hon. Friend aware that many widows and unmarried or separated mothers are forced to go out to work and that, thanks to the meanness of the Salford City Council, many of these mothers will have to leave their children in unsuitable houses without proper supervision? Can he do something to bring the attention of the Council to this need?
§ Mr. SnowMy hon. Friend should perhaps read the provisions of the Health Services and Public Health Bill now going through the House relating to child minding. The rest of his observations no doubt will be read and examined by his local authority.