§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how often the inter-departmental consultative group on the under-fives has met since it came into being; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report a summary of the brief to the inter-departmental consultative group on the under-fives.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe interdepartmental consultative group was set up in 1979 and has met 11 times, five of which were joint meetings with representatives of the local authority associations and the voluntary sector. Its terms of reference are
to provide a forum for interdepartmental discussion and co-ordination on provision for the under-fives in the field of community services".The next meeting is planned for 12 October. Subjects discussed at the meetings include unregistered childminding, playgroups, research in the day care field, nursery education, services for under-fives from the ethnic communities, the implications of the Education Act 1981 for health authorities, the Manpower Services Commission's community programme and the under-fives initiative. We are satisfied that the group fulfils a useful purpose.