§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to introduce an under-fives initiative in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamSocial services for the under-fives form an integral part of the Government's overall preventive strategy in child care, the development of which is identified as a specific objective in the "Regional Strategy for 1987–1992", published by the Department of Health and Social Services in August last year.
Progress toward this objective is being achieved through the detailed operational plans drawn up annually by the health and social services boards in the light of local needs, priorities and available resources. Although I have no plans to introduce a specific under-fives initiative in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health and Social Services has this year made £6,500 available for a scheme offering small, non-recurrent grants to local voluntary groups who provide services for the under-fives. This is slightly more, in per capita terms, than the corresponding small grants scheme in England and Wales.