§ Mrs. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities run play schemes, both after school and in school holidays, under Section 53(1) of the Education Act 1944.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI have been asked to reply.
My Department does not collect information about authorities' expenditure under Section 53(1) of the 1944 Education Act, but a recent survey by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils indicated that the majority of authorities run play schemes for at least some part of the summer holidays; after school facilities and schemes for other holidays are less common although a substantial minority of authorities make such provision.