HC Deb 11 July 1991 vol 194 cc473-4W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he has taken to determine the financial impact of the imposition of registration and inspection fees on non-profit-making play groups, mother and toddler groups and under-fives groups in Scotland;

(2) whether he will bring forward proposals to exempt non-profit-making play groups, mother and toddler

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information for Scotland as a whole is set out in the table.

April 1990-March 1991
Per cent.
Estimated percentage of Scottish Employment Training placements in workplaces with employers 19.6
Estimated percentage of Scottish Employment Training placements in project based schemes 40.0

The information sought is not available for areas within Scotland either in the form requested or for the precise areas stipulated. It is possible to disaggregate information only by former Training Agency area office areas and to provide figures only as a percentage of the Scottish total.

Information on this basis for 1990–91 for the Training Agency area office areas which encompass Inverclyde district and Strathclyde region is set out in the table.

groups and under-fives groups from registration and inspection fees under section 10 of the Children Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

When the Children Act 1989 comes into force on 14 October, fees payable by applicants for registration will be prescribed by regulations, as will annual inspection fees. The Government have not yet decided on the level of fees. We fully recognise the value to children and their families of the services provided by local playgroups, often within very tight budgets. We shall take this into account when we come to prescribe fees.