§ Ms RyanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the new neighbourhood nurseries initiative will support the national childcare strategy. [152567]
§ Ms HodgeThe national childcare strategy aims to create 1 million new childcare places for 1.6 million children across the country by 2004. 45,000 additional places in up to 900 new or expanded neighbourhood nursery centres will also be created. These nurseries will be in the most disadvantaged areas of the country where many families cannot presently access high quality childcare. The places created should be in well-designed buildings and sustainable over time, meeting childcare needs now and in the future.