To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by his Department to increase the availability of day nursery places.

The number of places in clay nurseries in England increased by nearly 14 per cent. in the year to 31 March 1989 to over 75,000.The tax concession for employer-managed child care facilities in the 1990 Budget will encourage further development. The new review duty introduced in the Children Act 1989 (to be implemented in October 1991) will require local authorities regularly to look at local services used by young children and publish reports. This will ensure more coherent use and development of services.