§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under five she estimates are under the care of (a) nursery schools, (b) play groups, (c) registered child minders, (d) unregistered child minders and (e) day nurseries, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenAt 31st March 1973, the most recent date for which figures are available, the number of children under five attending groups of the playgroup type in England was 335,213. 56,695 were in the care of registered childminders and 49,639 were in day nurseries, including private day nurseries. No official estimates of the number of children in the care of unregistered minders are available. Figures for nursery schools are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.