HC Deb 15 January 1996 vol 269 c470W
Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many nursery providers in the nursery voucher pilot scheme areas have been sent application forms; and how many providers have applied to participate in the scheme. [8727]

Mr. Robin Squire

All local education authority-maintained schools in the phase 1 areas have been invited to apply either directly or through their LEA. All grant-maintained and independent schools, and institutions registered under the Children Act 1989 in these areas, have been sent application forms. The voucher contractor has so far received over 500 applications to join the scheme.

Ms Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many nursery voucher application forms have been sent out to parents in the nursery voucher pilot scheme areas. [8726]

Mr. Squire

Some 11,800 application forms were sent out in the first mailing.

Ms Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance she will give to nursery providers who wish to apply for loans for capital works on the strength of expected voucher income; and what expressions of interest have been made by financial institutions with regard to providing capital funding to nursery providers. [8730]

Mr. Squire

Providers in the private and voluntary sectors will be able to apply for commercial loans on the strength of voucher income. Subject to parliamentary approval, grant-maintained schools will be given the power to borrow. They and other maintained schools will be able to take advantage of the freedoms provided by the private finance initiative to enter into partnerships with the private sector. The Department does not retain information about financial institutions which wish to provide capital funding to nursery providers.