§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of (i) the three-year-old population and (ii) the four-year-old population in Northern Ireland are within families with(a) a single parent, (b) both parents unemployed and (c) the parents in receipt of family income supplement;
(2) what proportion of the population of Northern Ireland is under five years old: and what plans there are to introduce an under-fives initiative to Northern Ireland of the type operating in other regions;
622W(3) what financial or other, assistance is given to pre-school playgroups by (a) each health and social services board and (b) each education and library board;
(4) what is the current population of (a) four-year-olds and (b) three-year-olds in Northern Ireland;
(5) how many mother and toddler groups operate in Northern Ireland: and what financial, or other, assistance is offered to them, by the Department of Education and by the Department of Health and Social Security.
§ Mr. NeedhamI refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) on 24 February 1988, at columns189–90.