§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many childminders were registered with English local authorities in each year since 1995. [157282]
§ Ms HodgeI have been asked to reply.
The information about registered childminders is shown in the table. Over the same time period the number of registered day nurseries has increased from 4,800 to 212W 7,100, the number of registered holiday schemes from 2,900 to 9,300 and the number of registered out of school clubs from 1,300 to 3,700.
Number1 of registered childminders for children under eight: 1995–2000 Number of registered childminders2 March 1995 96,000 March 1996 101,300 March 1997 97,100 March 1998 93,300 March 1999 80,000 March 2000 74,800 1These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 2Excluding childminders provided by the local authority. The responsibility for day care provision transferred from the Department of Health to the Department for Education and Employment in March 1998.