§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her policy in respect of the role for Capita Managed Services Ltd. in the inspection of the nursery voucher scheme. [6044]
§ Mr. Robin SquireCapita Managed Services Ltd. has a contract to administer the issue and redemption of vouchers in phase one of the nursery education voucher 975W scheme. The company will not exercise any judgment about the quality of provision in institutions which apply to redeem vouchers.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if nursery vouchers will be issued on a termly basis. [6280]
§ Mr. SquireNursery vouchers will be issued termly.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of how children with special needs will be affected by the nursery voucher scheme. [6281]
§ Mr. SquireI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Heppell) on 13 December,Official Report, columns 978–79.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost has been of promoting and explaining the nursery voucher scheme. [6282]
§ Mr. SquireThe cost to date for publicising and explaining the nursery voucher scheme to parents and providers is some £150,000.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many extra nursery places she expects the nursery voucher scheme to create. [6283]
§ Mr. SquireThe number of additional places created through the nursery voucher scheme will depend on the response of providers to parental demand. I am confident that providers of all types, either alone or in partnership with each other, will satisfy parental demand over time, given the extra funding which the voucher scheme provides.