§ 43. Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the nursery and general child care facilities for under-fives in Scotland.
§ Mr. LangSince 1979 the numbers of children under five attending local authority nursery schools or classes have increased by 28 per cent. to 41,000 and child care places have increased by 32 per cent. to 63,600.
In addition to providing revenue support grant for local authority nursery education and child care facilities, the Government assist voluntary organisations and local groups concerned with child care through the urban programme and through grants provided under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
Employers are showing increasing interest in providing child care facilities and the Government are strongly encouraging them to make use of available tax reliefs.