§ Ms ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the different levels of nursery vouchers that the Government propose to introduce and on what basis the differential is to be calculated. [35538]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe expectation is that a voucher worth around £1,100 will be exchanged for either a part-time place in a nursery class, nursery school or private nursery establishment, or a full-time place in a reception class where that is on offer, or up to a full-time place in a playgroup. The detailed funding regime will be considered further.
1336W
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the cost of administration of her voucher scheme for all four-year-olds(a) from April 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [35561]
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 18 July 1995]: The cost of issuing and redeeming vouchers is expected to be less than 1.5 per cent. of the value of the vouchers themselves.
§ Mr. David BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral statement of 6 July,Official Report, columns 517–519, how much funding a voucher would provide to pay for a part-time place in a playgroup.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe detailed funding regime for playgroups is being considered.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the proposals to give parents of four-year-olds vouchers for nursery education will take into account the varying costs of local authority provision.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe proposed funding method will recoup from local authorities a sum equivalent to the voucher value multiplied by the number of four-year-olds in maintained provision in each authority. This is only a part of total spending on under-fives, and allows local education authorities to continue to fund places as they judge appropriate.
The need for regional variation in the value of the voucher will be tested in phase 1 of the voucher scheme.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in which areas her voucher scheme will be tested in February 1996; and what consultations or discussions she has had with the teaching unions on these proposals/pilot schemes.
§ Mr. SquireMy right hon. Friend has written to all leaders of county councils, metropolitan borough councils and new unitary authorities inviting them to volunteer their areas to participate in the first phase of the voucher scheme.
My right hon. Friend discussed the voucher scheme with each of the teaching unions when the new policy was announced.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what account proposals to give parents of four-year-olds vouchers for nursery education will take of local authorities whose nursery provision is directed at three-year-olds and where children move to a receiving class at four years.
§ Mr. SquirePre-school education vouchers for four-year-olds will be redeemable at a wide range of establishments, including reception classes. The vouchers will allow parents to transfer their children from one establishment to another during the year, if they wish to do so.
The proposed funding method for the voucher scheme will allow local education authorities to continue to spend on three year-olds as they judge appropriate.
1337W
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her press statement of 6 July, 143/95, concerning pre-school proposals, if she will name the private sector company which will administer the scheme, or the manner in which she expects to advertise the terms for tendering for the relevant contract; and if she will place a copy of the relevant document in the Library. [35560]
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 18 July 1995]: My right hon. Friend announced on 6 July her decision to select, by competitive tender, a private sector company to issue and redeem the pre-school voucher. Advertisements inviting expressions of interest have been published. A copy of the detailed specifications will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what calculations her Department has undertaken in respect of the real cost of nursery education for four-year-olds in(a) the state sector and (b) the private sector.
§ Mr. Robin SquireWith respect to costs in the state sector, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 15 May at columns11–12.
The official task force on under-fives has consulted a wide range of representatives of the private and voluntary sectors about the cost of providing places for four-year-olds in their sectors.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates her Department has made of the operating costs of administering the scheme to give vouchers to parents of four-year-olds; and what level of profits the private company set up to administer the scheme is expected to make. [35281]
§ Mr. SquireThe cost of issuing and redeeming vouchers will be determined by a competitive tender. It is expected to be less than 1.5 per cent. of the value of the vouchers themselves.