§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) new places have been created and (b) children have been helped under the National Child Care Strategy in the London boroughs of (i) Redbridge and (ii) Waltham Forest since April 1999; what the current year's Childcare Grant is; what is proposed for the next financial year; and if he will make a statement. [147394]
§ Margaret Hodge1,990 new child care places were created in the London borough of Redbridge between April 1999 and June 2003, helping some 3,700 children. Net of places closing, this added 1,423 places to the stock of child care places in the borough. Grant of £764,400 is available to Redbridge in financial year 2003–04 to support the creation of new places. Grant allocations for 2004–06 are not split between the two financial years. For the two financial years together, £2,185,200 is available to Redbridge, including £1.1 million capital funding to create children's centres.
3,037 new child care places were created in the London borough of Waltham Forest between April 1999 and June 2003, helping some 5,600 children. Net of places closing, this added 2,936 places to the stock of child care places. Grant of £988,800 is available in financial year 2003–04 to support the creation of new places. For the two financial years 2004–06, £4,780,200 is available to Waltham Forest, including £3.1 million capital funding to create children's centres.