§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide additional funding for nursery places in 1998 to match the current year's provision. [9615]
§ Mr. WilsonSome £67 million has been set aside for provision of pre-school education in Scotland in 1998–99 compared with £47.3 million in 1997–98. This will enable Government funding of part-time education on the current basis for all children in the pre-school year. Local686W authorities also use their discretion to spend additional sums on pre-school education, funded from other resources. Since we are constrained by existing funding, I have no plans to make additional finance available at present.