§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce his plans for pre-school play groups.
§ Sir K. JosephI want to see an expansion of play groups, particularly for children with special social needs and under conditions where parents can be involved in the groups. It is, however, for local authorities to assess the extent of the need in their own areas and to make plans accordingly.
The Government will be making its contribution through general policy guidance, through the machinery of the urban programme, the most recent phase of which makes special provision for projects for pre-school children, including play groups, and in suitable cases, through grants to national voluntary organisations to enable them to speed the provision of play groups especially in areas of social need and generally to improve standards.