§ Mr. ÖpikTo 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. HainThe 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.