HC Deb 13 March 1992 vol 205 cc697-8W
Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to fund after-school clubs in primary schools in Wigan local education authority.

Mr. Eggar

My hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) announced on I March the Government's intention to expand child care for school age children. The Government plan, through Department of Health programmes, to support a number of new development posts in voluntary organisations, which will work with schools and others to pilot the development of innovative schemes.

It is important that local education authorities and schools should play their part in the development of out of hours care schemes, and we have encouraged schools to respond accordingly by opening up their premises to meet local needs.