§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which areas are designated as being without adequate facilities for young children to play together, within the terms of the urban programme; and which of these local authorities has not yet applied for governmental financial assistance;
(2) which local authorities have applied for financial assistance, under the urban aid programme to provide for preschool play groups;
(3) how many local authorities have so far applied for 75 per cent. grants to enable them to support pre-school play groups in their areas; and what steps he intends to take to publicise the availability of such assistance.
§ Mr. Ross:No local authority has so far applied for grant under the urban programme to enable them to make grants to voluntary organisations provid- 130W ing playgroups or themselves to provide playgroups. It is not practicable centrally to designate localities in which playgroups are needed. In a circular of May, 1969 about the urban programme, playgroups were mentioned among the examples of projects eligible for the 75 per cent. grant, and I shall draw attention to this need again shortly when I invite local authorities to make proposals for the next two years.