§ 19. Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new child care places will be created in 1997–98. [55112]
§ Ms HodgeIn 1997–98, 7,455 places were created through the Out of School Childcare Initiative in England, exceeding our target. This year, to support our National Childcare Strategy, we will create at least 40,000 new places through the Initiative and a further 20,000 places through other schemes.
§ 24. Judy MallaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of new child care places to be created this year. [55119]
§ Ms HodgeIn this financial year up to 2 August 1998, 4,270 new childcare places have been created through the Out of School Childcare Initiative (England). We have not yet received data from all the TECs for the summer holidays when many new schemes started, but we are confident that we are on course to meet the end of year target of 40,000 places.
In addition, 10,000 new places will be created for pre-school children aged 0–3 and 4 year olds in full-time education through the £6 million in childcare grants allocated to local education authorities and Early Years Development Partnerships.
A further 10,000 out of school childcare places will be created in further education colleges and other institutions in 1998 through a £5 million grant administered by the Further Education Funding Council.
We will be making available £44 million to support Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships from next year. This money will help Partnerships to increase the number of childcare places beyond the 60,000 to be set up this year.