§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total public expenditure spent on local authority day nurseries, local authority playgroups and grants to the voluntary sector for provision for under-fives for each year from 1975 to 1985 and (b) the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product of Scotland for each of these years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information available on expenditure by social work authorities on children's day care services, including payments to voluntary bodies and individuals, is as follows:
£ million 1975–76 3.0 1976–77 4.0 1977–78 4.1 1978–79 5.0 1979–80 6.0 1980–81 8.2 1981–82 9.1 1982–83 110.2 1983–84 111.0 1984–85 111.6 1985–86 112.4 1 Estimate. The percentage which these sums represent of estimated Scottish GDP is 0.04 up to 1979–80, rising to 0.05 thereafter.
Grants are also made by central Government to voluntary social work organisations. However, the exact amounts from such grants which are devoted to provision for under-fives are not available.