§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children in the London borough of Redbridge are in pre-school education; what is the national average; what is the comparable figure for each EC country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthIn 1992 the age participation rate for maintained schools was 34 per cent. for Redbridge and 49 per cent. for England. The participation rate for England for all forms of education and group day care for the under-fives was over 90 per cent. Comparable figures for all EC countries are not available: where participation rates for education are known, the range in 1989 was from 27 per cent. to 99 per cent.