§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received to date regarding the proposed nursery voucher scheme; how many of these representations voiced support for the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [8059]
§ Mr. RichardsSome 1,100 separate representations have been received to date, including some petitions and a large number of printed pro-forma letters organised by some primary schools. There has been general support for the Government's objective of making nursery education available for all four-year-olds, although no declared support amongst the representations for the proposed voucher scheme as the most appropriate means to achieve that objective. Many of the representations have clearly been generated by a misunderstanding of some basic elements of the scheme and the greater choice it will give parents in the type of provision they can have for their children, and by an unsubstantiated concern that it will inevitably reduce the current level of maintained sector provision. If local education authorities provide what parents want, there is nothing in the proposed voucher scheme to threaten their current levels of provision