§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which departments funded the Drive For Youth programme in the past four years; what were the reasons for this investment; what amount of public funds was allocated to this in each year; and if he will make a statement. [90300]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 8 July 1999]: Drive For Youth is a registered charity. Government funding is through payment for services provided through contracts for the delivery of training courses for New Deal and other clients by the Employment Service, TECs, LECs and other bodies. Many of these contracts are concluded at local level, and information is not held centrally, so full details could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.
School year Board area 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Belfast Nursery school/units 2,637 2,689 2,767 Reception places 92 92 92 Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres 267 465 622 North Eastern Nursery school/units 1,813 2,307 2,879 Reception places 389 389 389 Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres 421 720 908 South Eastern Nursery school/units 1,678 2,172 2,536 Reception places 475 475 475 Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres 291 443 747 Southern Nursery school/units 1,720 2,136 2,630 Reception places 946 946 946 Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres 378 400 543 Western Nursery school/units 1,446 1,992 2,512 Reception places 619 619 619 Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres 514 629 647 Total 13,686 16,474 19,312