§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of pre-school education places in Gloucestershire to be commissioned by local authorities from registered partner providers in the voluntary and private sectors in the academic year 1998–99. [54646]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeGloucestershire's Early Years Development Plan for 1998–99, which was approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in March, offers a free place for every eligible four-year-old in the local authority area. The Plan estimates that 273 places will be in the private, independent and voluntary sectors in the autumn term 1998, 2,109 in the spring term 1999, and 4,394 in the summer term 1999.