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35
one reason or another ceased to function so that the total number remained
the same. The number of child minders registered at the end of the year
has slightly fallen; 60 new child minders were registered, again replacing
women who had ceased to be child minders.
Under Section 65 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968,
a further grant of £100 was made to a play group held in the community
centre in one corner of the Borough where there are many so-called
problem families. This play group has met a real social need in the area
and the local authoritity grant has again enabled the fees the mothers pay
to be kept to a minimum.
In another play group, held in a youth centre, there was a considerable
storage problem. The Director of Education was requested to provide
storage facilities for the benefit of the play group and the cost was met
through the Social Services estimates.
Following Ministry approval, which had previously been given under
Section 22 of the National Health Services Act 1946 and in pursuance of
Section 20(3) of the same Act, 8 children who had special need of care on
health and/or social grounds were paid for by the Council to attend either
a play group or be cared for by a child minder.
Negotiations were also commenced with the Harrow Pre-School
Play Groups Association, who were asked if they could start another play
group in a Council pavilion in a park in the north-west corner of the
Borough. This was near a Council estate not served by any nearby play
group. Here again there is a fairly high proportion of difficult family
problems and there is no form of nursery provision in the area, which
would benefit these children. It is hoped that this play group will
commence early in 1972.
Priority Dental Services
The report of the Department of Education and Science, which
resulted from a review of the dental services of the Borough in February,
stated that the service provided for under fives is better than average on
all counts, and that treatment is provided at a high level for those in need.
I am pleased to say that this standard of service has continued in the
current year.
Marriage Guidance
The Marriage Guidance Council have a local office in the Borough.
This is at 88/98 College Road, Harrow. Telephone: 427 8964.
Family Planning
In Circular 36/71, the Department of Health and Social Security
urged local authorities to increase their provision of family planning
services and, where appropriate, to continue to provide family planning
services in partnership with voluntary bodies. The family planning
services in Harrow continued to be provided by the Family Planning