§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the help provided by his Department to pre-school play groups.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department is providing more than £200,000 to voluntary organisations in 1978–79 to support then-work in the provision of play groups for young children, and we have consistently encouraged local authorities to provide support and guidance for play groups in their areas, most recently in the circular on co-ordination of services for children under five issued jointly with the Department of Education and Science in January 1978 (DHSS LASSL(78)1/DES Reference Number: S47/24/013). In making our grant to the Pre-School Playgroups Association we emphasised the importance we attach to the association strengthening its activities particularly in areas of high deprivation.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the fact that Knowsley council is a generally deprived area, he will take special steps to encourage the provision of pre-school play groups.
§ Mr. MoyleThe development of preschool play groups in Knowsley is a matter for local initiative, but I understand that an application for a grant for a play groups scheme in Knowsley under the Government's urban aid programme is currently under consideration.