HC Deb 13 January 1977 vol 923 cc590-2W
Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when was the last revision in the parental income scale; and what were the changes for parents seeking places for their children in day nurseries in the Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirrall Metropolitan District Councils and in the Lancashire County Council.

Mr. Moyle,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 323–4], circulated the following information:

Each of these authorities last revised its parental income scale on 15th November to take account of the increases from that date in the scale rates of supplementary benefit introduced by the Supplementary Benefit (Determination of Requirements Regulations 1976 (S.I. 1976 1030) on which, together with a personal allowance determined by each authority, the authorities' parental income scales are based. On the same date Trafford and St. Helens Metropolitan District Councils increased the personal allowance element of their scales by £3 to £9 a week. The effect of these changes for parents was to increase the level of income above which day nursery charges are made.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities in the Greater Manchester and Merseyside Metropolitan Counties have announced increases in day nursery charges, commencing in January 1977; what is the percentage increase in each case; and how these compare with the increases announced by Lancashire County Council.

Mr. Moyle,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 323–4], circulated the following information

Of the local authorities in the areas referred to by my hon. Friend only Manchester Metropolitan District Council has announced increases in its day nursery charges from January 1977; the percentage increase is 48 per cent. The per- centage increase announced by Lancashire County Council is 120 per cent. Some authorities in these areas raised their charges before January 1977 and others are understood to be considering increases from 1st April 1977.