§ Ms Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of new nursery places likely to be created in the nursery voucher pilot scheme areas as a result of the voucher scheme. [9058]
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§ Mr. Robin SquireThe number of additional places created through the nursery voucher scheme will depend on the response of providers to parental demand. I am confident that providers of all types, either alone or in partnership with each other, will satisfy parental demand over time.
§ Ms MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of Office for Standards in Education inspections of nursery providers that will be carried out in the nursery voucher pilot areas during phase 1; what these inspections will cost; and what extra resources will be made available to Ofsted to accommodate increased inspection. [8719]
§ Mr. SquireSetting aside maintained schools which are already subject to regular inspection by Ofsted, initial planning estimates indicate that for the first phase of the scheme some 600 inspections of voucher redeeming establishments will be required. The precise number will depend upon the number of providers who take part in the scheme.
A total of £5 million has been set aside for the inspection and administration during the first phase, the greater proportion of which will be spent on the recruitment and training of inspectors in preparation for the second phase.