§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for encouraging local authorities to increase provisions for child care in the next financial White Paper.
§ Mr. DeakinsIt is much too early to say what might be in the next Public Expenditure White Paper. The latest guidance to local authorities about provision130W for child care is contained in "Guidelines for Planning in 1978–79" issued by my Department with Local Authority Circular (78)6, which reaffirmed chapter IX of the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England".
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report his Department's response to the Woman's Own Gallup opinion poll survey of women's problems associated with child care and work, a copy of which was formally presented to his Department on 19 December 1978.
§ Mr. DeakinsOn 8 January I wrote toWoman's Own, thanking it for letting me see a copy of its survey "Fair Care for Children and a Fair Deal for Mum" and commented:
I entirely agree on the need for more day care. The number of places is slowly increasing but most have to be kept for families where there is real need. Day nurseries and other forms of care for young children are expensive and they have to compete, with services for the handicapped and for old people in need, for limited resources. But I agree very much that mothers have done wonderfully well through their own efforts—we give the playgroup organisations substantial help—and I shall be very interested to see how your scheme for looking after children after school works out.