HC Deb 12 June 1997 vol 295 c557W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) three-year-olds and (b) four-year-olds, received state-funded nursery provision in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the amount of extra expenditure which would be needed to meet total demand for state funded nursery provision for (i) all three-year-olds and (ii) four-year-olds. [3173]

Mr. Hain

The information requested is as follows:

At January 3-year-olds1 4-year-olds2
1995–96 18,600 35,251
1994–95 19,375 34,638
1993–94 18,779 34,165
1992–93 18,258 34,822
1991–92 17,942 33,866
1 Includes full and part time pupils in maintained nursery, primary and special schools.

Specific funding of £42.5 million is being provided in 1997–98 to enable all four-year-olds to receive education of at least five half day sessions per week. We will consult on targets for education for three-year-olds in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on education.

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