§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what annual grant has been made by her Department to the Pre-School Learning Alliance or to its predecessor the Pre-School634W Playgrounds Association in each year since 1990; for what purpose the grant is intended; and what plans she has for the continuance of such a grant for such purposes once plans for universal nursery vouchers are fully implemented. [41629]
§ Mr. Robin SquireGrants paid by the Department since 1990–91 are as shown in the table. They support the training of playgroup staff, and are reviewed annually. No decisions have been taken about the level of grant from 1997–98, when the voucher scheme is to be implemented fully.
Financial year £ thousands 1990–91 179 1991–92 327.5 1992–93 649.5 1993–94 887 1994–95 1,195 1995–96 1,195
§ Mr. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the study commissioned by her Department and undertaken in 1994 into the use of the grant made by her Department to the Pre-School Learning Alliance. [41630]
§ Mr. SquireThe independent review into the use of the Pre-School Playgroups Association of its grant from the Department in support of staff training was undertaken in 1993. The review found that the PPA made effective use of its grant and obtained value for money. The review's findings were taken into account by the Department in determining its grant to the PPA in 1994–95, which increased by 35 per cent. over the preceding year.