§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much free childcare provision is available through the state.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information available centrally about total local authority provision of day care for the under fives is set out in the table. Information is not collected centrally about how much of the total provision is free. Following the implementation of the Children Act 1989, the Department will be collecting information about provision made for children under eight.
Number at 31 March 1990 Children on the register of local authority day nurseries 32,413 Children placed and paid for by local authorities in non-local authority day nurseries 1,788 Children on the register of local authority playgroups 2,525 Children placed and paid for by local authorities in non-local authority playgroups 11,556 Places with childminders sponsored by the local authority 1,889 Children placed and paid for by local authority with registered childminders not provided by the local authority 5,492