HC Deb 06 February 1996 vol 271 cc133-4W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the capital cost of providing early years education for all four-year-olds in the county of Norfolk when(a) one quarter of such pupils attend nursery schools or classes as currently operated and half attend play groups under arrangements recognised by the Pre-School Education Alliance and (b) half attend each type of provision, together with the method of such funding and the type of accommodation to be provided. [13991]

Mr. Robin Squire

The capital costs of providing a nursery education place for all four-year-olds in Norfolk will depend on the circumstances of individual providers.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate(a) the number of four-year-olds in the county of Norfolk whose parents or guardians will be eligible to apply for vouchers and (b) the number of full-time equivalent adults required to staff all providers at current statutory or recommended staff-pupil ratios for half-time pupils (i) when one quarter of the children are attending nursery schools or nursery classes as currently operated, and three quarters play groups operating under arrangements recognised by the Pre-School Education Alliance and (ii) when half attended each type of provision; and what is the annual salary bill in each case. [13996]

Mr. Squire

We estimate that the parents of some 9,300 four-year-olds in Norfolk will be eligible to apply for a nursery education voucher. The number of full-time equivalent adults required to staff all providers will depend on the number of providers and the size of the groups therin. The annual salary bill will depend on the salary costs of individual adults.