HC Deb 19 January 1977 vol 924 cc201-2W
Mr. Steen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps his Department has taken fully to utilise the information gained as a result of the work of the Children and Youth Action Group;

(2) how much was paid to the Children and Youth Action Group during the subsistence of the contract;

(3) what was learnt during the subsistence of the contract with the Children and Youth Action Group;

(4) what were the terms of the contract with the Children and Youth Action Group;

(5) what was the objective of the grant to the Children and Youth Action Group;

(6) why the grant payable to the Children and Youth Action Group was terminated before the period of contract had expired by the effluxion of time.

Mr. Armstrong

The objective of the research contract which was awarded in January 1975 was to evaluate existing information about children's play and make suggestions which would help in considering what guidance might be given to local authorities and others about standards to be adopted in schemes for children's play under supervision. The contract followed a standard form for contracts for research purposes between the Department and outside bodies.

No grant was payable to the contractor under the contract or otherwise; there is therefore no question of the termination of any grant. In accordance with its provisions, the contract was terminated before the full period had run. We were not satisfied that the contract's objectives would be fulfilled.

At the time of this termination in June 1976, the first stage of the programme consisting primarily of the collection of information in the field of children's play had been completed; approximately £23,000 has been paid to the contractor in accordance with the contract in respect of this work.

We are considering the question of further research work in the light of that already done. The information collected will provide a useful input to any such further work. We have also ensured that the Children and Youth Action Group so that it can be drawn on in dealing with has available a set of the information any inquiries about supervised play.