§ 15. Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the under-fives initiative scheme.
§ Mr. John PattenAs I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 8 May, at columns 722–23, this initiative was launched by my right hon. Friend in October 1983 with some 80 projects to be managed by 14 major voluntary organisations working in the fields of day care and support for families with under fives. Further projects, now totalling 30, run by small local groups are receiving support through the National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations as the Department's agent. A total of £648,000 was paid out to the participating agencies in the financial year 1983–84.