§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what circulars her Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of day care and after school facilities for the children of working parents.
§ Mr. DeakinsI have been asked to reply.
My Department, jointly with the Department of Education and Science, has issued two circular letters on the coordination of local authority services for children under five (Local Authority Social Services Letter (76)5/Department of Education and Science Reference No. S21/47/105 issued in March 1976 and Local Authority Social Services Letter (78)1/Department of Education and Science Reference No. S47/24/013 issued in 127W January 1978); copies of both letters are in the Library. They offered guidance on the day care of young children, and emphasised the vital role of voluntary organisations and playgroups in the provision of these services. We have issued no separate circulars on after school facilities.
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for encouraging local authorities to increase provisions for child care in the next financial White Paper.
Mr. DenkinsI have been asked to reply.
It is much too early to say what might be in the next public expenditure White Paper. The latest guidance to local authorities about provision for child care is contained in "Guidelines for Planning in 1978–79" issued by my Department with Local Authority Circular (78)6, which reaffirmed chapter IX of the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England".