§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 6 July,Official Report, columns 512–13, concerning the introduction of nursery education for all four year-olds, (1) by how many he expects the number of attendances of children of this age group to increase for each year commencing September 1996 up to 2000 due to (a) a reduction in the proportion of four year-old receiving full-time nursery education and (b) a reduction in the proportion of the three year-olds receiving full-time nursery education; [33979]
(2) what is the increase in the number of nursery school places he expects to be available for this age group for each year commencing September 1996 up to 2000 arising from (a) an increase in the number of qualified nursery school teachers and (b) places made available by a reduction in the proportion of attendances by three year-olds, full or part-time. [33980]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 6 July,Official Report, columns 517–19. The number and type of places which become available will depend on parental demand and providers' response to it. The proposed funding method will allow local education authorities and other providers to continue to supply as many full-time places and places for three-year-olds as they do now.