§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are now attending day nurseries in each age group up to 5 years; and what is the total cost of such provision.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret that figures are not available for different age groups amongst children attending day nurseries. On 31st March 1976, the latest date for which figures are available in England, 27,800 children were on the registers of full-time day nurseries provided by local authorities; on the same date there were 26,000 places in premises registered by local authorities to provide full day care. The total cost to local authorities in 1975–76 of their own provision and of placements in day nurseries provided by private or voluntary organisations was about £28 million. This figure includes loan charges, but excludes administrative costs which cannot be separately identified for this service; no deduction has been made in respect of parental contributions.