HC Deb 16 May 1990 vol 172 cc416-7W
Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child minders are registered in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

At 31 March 1988 there were 74,588 registered child minders in England. Information about Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Information about Northern Ireland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and for Wales.

Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which have waiting periods of(a) six to 12 months, (b) 12 to 18 months, (c) 18 to 24 months and (d) over 24 months for registration of child minders.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not collected centrally. It is for local authorities to decide on the appropriate level of resources necessary for carrying out their registration duty under the Nurses and Childminders Registration Act 1948. Where individual cases are brought to the Department's attention, inquiries are made of the local authority concerned to establish the facts and what action, if any, is being taken to remedy the position. Advice will be given on the registration process including the length of time to handle applications in the new guidance to be issued under the Children Act 1989.

Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which have licensed other bodies to register child minders on their behalf.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Under the provisions of the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948, as amended, local social services departments have a statutory duty to register child minders. This duty must not be delegated.

So far as is known no such delegation has occurred.

Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered child minders are currently claiming free milk benefit.

Mr. Dorrell

The figures are not kept in the form requested. However, some 90,000 registered child minders, playgroups and day nurseries are registered (under the Welfare Food Regulations 1988) to receive the free milk, or dried baby milk, available for children under five years old in day care. The majority of these are child minders.