§ 21. Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local authorities have so far volunteered to take part in phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme. [36011]
§ Mr. Robin SquireAs I announced earlier, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, and Westminster have confirmed their decision to take part in the first phase of the voucher scheme, beginning in April 1996.
I hope to add to this list in the near future.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral statement of 6 July,Official Report, columns 517–19, in respect of the provision for providers to borrow capital for premises against the value of voucher income, who she envisages will underwrite such loans. [36152]
§ Mr. SquireAs the Secretary of State previously stated, we envisage that borrowing or similar arrangements will take place on the strength of the anticipated voucher income. Any additional underwriting of the loans will be a matter for negotiation in the normal commercial way.