§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing nursery education for all three-year-olds who are not in early years education; and if he will make a statement. [108864]
§ Ms HodgeWe are making £390 million available over three years to increase by 190,000 the number of free, good quality, early education places for three-year-olds. This new money is being phased in over the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. The priority is to reach those three-year-olds in social need who would most benefit from a free nursery place. The additional funding will enable 66 per cent. of all three-year-olds to have access to a free place by March 2002, as the first stage of the Government's strategy to provide free early education places for all three-year-olds. The estimated annual cost of achieving universal provision is approximately £450 million.