§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has specified a maximum number of (a) babies and (b) under fives for (i) a day nursery to qualify for under-fives initiative funding, (ii) a day nursery run by a local authority and (iii) a day nursery in the voluntary sector.
§ Mr. John PattenNo. Some guidance to local authorities on staff ratios is contained in circulars 37/68 and 35/72, copies of which are in the Library. We shall later in the year be embarking on a review of guidance to local authorities on day care for young children.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the criteria of eligibility laid down for day nursery projects to enable them to qualify for under-fives initiative funding; and if he has published these criteria to potential applicants.
§ Mr. John PattenNo such criteria were laid down but in advance of the preparation of proposals meetings were held with all the major voluntary organisations participating and with the National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations to discuss the scope of the initiative. All proposals were considered on their merits and projects were then selected for funding to give a balance between different types of provision and to ensure a reasonable geographical spread. The funds for the programme as a whole were heavily over subscribed and some proposals had inevitably to be excluded.