HC Deb 10 March 1978 vol 945 cc804-5W
Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in the 0–5 age group are in full time day care in the United Kingdom; what was the equivalent figure for each year since 1970; and if he will give the comparable figures for the other countries of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Moyle

The available figures relating to all-day care facilities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are given in the tables below. Most of the children concerned will be under the age of five. Comparable figures for other countries of the EEC are not readily available.

care services for the under-fives but recognise that for local authorities, with whom responsibility for providing these services rests, the rate of expansion possible depends largely on resolving current economic problems. We have, however, suggested to local authorities in recent guidance that the resources being made available should now enable them to make some progress in remedying deficiences in services for under-fives, amongst others, and have urged them, through the co-ordination of the various services for this group of children, to ensure that maximum use is made of all existing resources, whether provided by statutory or voluntary bodies.