Pre-schools

HC Deb 11 March 2004 vol 418 cc1738-9W

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the number of pre-schools in England; and if he will make a statement. [156698]

Margaret Hodge

My Department estimates that there were 10,100 pre-school or playgroups in England in January 2003. Provisional data for January 2004 will be published in May 2004.