Mr. McNeilasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a recent circular of the Ministry to welfare authorities anticipating the closing of many war-time nurseries and curtailing the recruitment and training of probationer nursery nurses has alarmed these authorities; and will he take steps to satisfy the widespread public demand for the continuance of these nurseries on a peace-time basis under post-war housing conditions and for the welfare of mothers and children, in the absence of any provision for home helps, even if the mother is not employed outside the home.
1967W
§ Mr. WillinkWar-time nurseries have been provided at the cost of the Exchequer as an aid to war production. Their purpose has been to enable women with young children to help in the war effort and where these facilities are no longer required their continuance for this purpose at the cost of the Exchequer cannot be justified. I hope, however, that it will prove possible for a number of the war-time nurseries, where the site and the premises are suitable, to be taken over by local education authorities as nursery schools.