asked the Prime Minister what information as to the level of provision for the under-fives by different local authorities is available to Her Majesty's Government; how this information is taken into account in fixing the level of rate support grant; and whether the results of any monitoring of the subsequent level of under-fives provision actually made is available to Her Majesty's Government.

Information is available to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services about personal social services provision for the under-fives as follows:

(a) Number of children under five in the care of local authorities.

(b) Numbers of children moved to a place of safety.

(c) Numbers of day nurseries and pre-school play groups, places in them, take up of places and waiting lists.

(d) Numbers of childminders and places available. Numbers of children placed and paid for by local authorities with childminders not provided by them.

(e) Numbers of children placed for adoption.

(f) Current expenditure on mother and baby homes and pre-school playgroups. Capital and current expenditure on day nurseries.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science additionally receives information about educational provision for pupils under five in maintained nursery and primary schools. Figures for January 1981 are contained in the DES Statistical Bulletin, 4/82.The assessment of the grant-related expenditure of authorities in respect of services for the under-fives is described in "Grant-Related Expenditure; How the Expenditure Needs of Local Authorities are Assessed for Block Grant 1982–83".Copies of both these publications are in the Library of the House.The Government continue to monitor the level of provision for the under-fives.