asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek a supplementary estimate to enable her to meet demands for greater financial aid for the provision of after school care and holiday care for the children of working mothers and mothers who wish to work.

My right hon. Friend has no powers to fund such provision. However, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Security, gives sympathetic consideration to schemes of this nature when advising the Department of the Environment about applications submitted by local authorities for support under the urban programme.