§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each local authority area, the number of pre-school child minding places available and express the figure as a percentage of the total number of pre-school children in the area. [80218]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe table gives the available information. Some authorities have yet to submit their returns.
197W
Registered child minding places for children under 5, as at 30 November 1997 Local authority Number of registered places Number of registered places as a percentage of under 5 population % Aberdeen City 735 6 Aberdeenshire 1,266 9 Angus 854 13 Argyll and Bute 459 9 Clackmannanshire 181 6 Dumfries and Galloway 295 3 Dundee City n/a n/a East Ayrshire 433 6 East Dunbartonshire 698 11 East Lothian n/a n/a East Renfrewshire n/a n/a Edinburgh, City of n/a n/a Eilean Siar 66 4 Falkirk 721 8 Fife 1,964 10 Glasgow City n/a n/a Highland n/a n/a
Registered child minding places for children under 5, as at 30 November 1997 Local authority Number of registered places Number of registered places as a percentage of under 5 population % Inverclyde 171 3 Midlothian n/a n/a Moray 539 10 North Ayrshire 346 4 North Lanarkshire 655 3 Orkney Islands 66 6 Perthshire and Kinross 966 13 Renfrewshire 438 4 Scottish Borders n/a n/a Shetland Islands 128 8 South Ayrshire 462 8 South Lanarkshire 979 5 Stirling 509 11 West Dunbartonshire 235 4 West Lothian n/a n/a From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations or guidelines he has issued regarding child minders and premises for child minding, with particular reference to the number of children and the number of child minders who can be accommodated on any premises. [80219]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe Scottish Office issued guidance to local authorities on the regulation of services for children under the Children Act 1989 in June 1991. That guidance recommends adult: child ratios for child minding and other forms of day care for children under the age of 8. Advice on the number of child minders who may be accommodated on any particular premises is not, however, provided in the guidance.
We issued a consultation paper on the regulatory arrangements for early education and child care in March this year. Follow up action could include revised guidance.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.