§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the participation rate of three-year-olds in early education in Hampshire. [69461]
§ Ms HodgeThe information is not available in the form requested. There were 559 three-year-olds in maintained nursery and primary schools in the Hampshire Local Education Authority area in January 1998. In addition, the Government have set a target to double the national participation rate of three-year-olds in free early education places to 66 per cent. by 2002, using the maintained voluntary and private sectors.