HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1197-8W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the additional staff required to ensure that all four-year-olds will have a pre-school place in April 1997, listing teaching and other support staff separately and indicating the qualifications that staff in a typical pre-school establishment will be expected to have. [35405]

Mr. Richards

We will be consulting further on such issues as staff:pupil ratios and staff qualifications. There are no plans to impose new qualification requirements.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement about his proposals for deregulation in the pre-school sector, and what effect his proposals will have on the level of child:adult ratios, the quality of premises provided and the equipment which should be available; and [35403]

(2) if he will make a statement about the inspection framework he intends to establish to cover pre-school places provided under the nursery voucher scheme and what will be the relative roles of ACAC, Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector and local authority social services and education departments. [35401]

Mr. Richards

These matters are still under consideration and will be the subject of further consultation with interested bodies. I intend to issue a document outlining final details of implementation in the autumn.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of administration and inspection of pre-school places eligible for the nursery voucher scheme when it is in full operation. [35399]

Mr. Richards

No final decisions regarding administration arrangements and inspection regimes have been taken. I do not expect administration overhead costs to be significant in relation to the value of the voucher.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much he estimates will be recouped from each local education authority of the money already spent on pre-school places to finance the nursery voucher scheme when it is fully in operation; and what percentage this will represent of the money currently provided for pre-school places. [35398]

Mr. Richards

Details of the arrangements for recoupment will be the subject of further consultation with local authorities. Final decisions will depend on the outcome of the public expenditure survey although of course no specific provision is made within the local authority revenue settlement for pre-school education.