§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what will be the total cost of the nursery education voucher road show to his Department; [1490]
what is the itinerary of the nursery voucher roadshow; [2014]
(3) to whom invitations have been sent to attend the nursery voucher roadshow. [2013]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansMy right hon. Friend and I are determined that the voucher scheme will be implemented in Wales as smoothly and efficiently as possible. It is important that providers of nursery education in the maintained, private and voluntary sectors have full information about the detailed operation of the scheme. To that end, the Welsh Office is proposing to hold a number of factual information seminars and is currently assessing demand among private and voluntary nurseries and playgroups for seminars in Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Llandudno, Wrexham and Llandrindod Wells. So far, over 360 organisations have said they want to attend. The cost of the seminars is expected to be between £2,000 and £3,000, depending on numbers and locations.
Local education authorities were invited to consider holding joint LEA/Welsh Office seminars for schools, but have declined, many, I understand, making separate arrangements to brief their schools.