§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will use his powers under the Children Act 1989 to ensure that registration and inspection fees under part X of the Act are waived for non-profit making playgroups with charitable status when the provisions of the Act come into force later this year.
§ Mr. LangRegistration and inspection fees for playgroups and other childcare services will be prescribed in regulations which the Government will bring forward for coming into force on 14 October. No decisions have yet been taken on the level of the fees to be prescribed but in fixing them I will take account of the non-profit making and charitable status of playgroups which, I believe, provide a valuable experience for very many young children and for their families.