HC Deb 10 March 1987 vol 112 cc154-5W
31. Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what initiatives his Department has undertaken directed specifically at under-fives since November 1986.

Mrs. Currie

My hon. Friend the Minister for Health, in his reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) on 12 December 1986 at column284, announced the Government's plans to allocate an extra £550,000 in 1987–88 to help families with pre-school children. Up to £400,000 of this sum would be available in the form of tapering grants to help projects, currently funded under the under-fives initiative, secure alternative funds from statutory or other sources after 31 March 1987. The balance would be used to set up a scheme under which selected national voluntary bodies active in the under-fives field would be able to give small capital grants to local groups.