HC Deb 16 October 1996 vol 282 cc981-3W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that providers of places under the nursery voucher scheme will be under the same obligations as maintained schools to provide parents with information about Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector inspections. [41160]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

As a condition of grant, all nursery voucher scheme providers will be under the same obligations to make inspection reports available to parents, without charge.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the number of nursery vouchers required in each of the local education authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement; [41266]

(2) how many nursery vouchers he expects to issue on the start-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [41270]

Mr. Evans

All four-year-olds in Wales will be entitled to a nursery voucher, to be issued on a termly basis. The nursery voucher scheme contractor will identify the number of eligible children from the child benefit database and will send the parents or carers an application form for vouchers. A publicity campaign will alert parents or carers to the need to apply if they have not received a form. In exceptional circumstances, schools will hold a supply of forms for eligible children who have not received a voucher.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts of public money are earmarked for the nursery voucher scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [41267]

Mr. Evans

The total cost of the scheme in Wales, including the cost of inspection and administration, is expected to be some £43 million. A final decision on the relevant levels of additional provision and present expenditure funding will be taken in the context of the public expenditure settlement for 1997–98.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to make available to local education authorities in Wales the findings of the nursery voucher scheme's pilot schemes in England; and if he will make a statement. [41268]

Mr. Evans

Welsh Office officials are having on-going discussions with representatives of the local education authorities in Wales on all aspects of the detailed operation of the voucher scheme, which will include discussions on phase 1. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will be making a statement to the House on the evaluation of phase 1 during the autumn.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, as a consequence of representations made to him concerning nursery vouchers, he will exempt Wales from the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [41269]

Mr. Evans

I have already written to the hon. Member and informed him that I have no such plans. To do so would deny parents throughout Wales the opportunity for choice in the type of education they want for their four-year-old children.