§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many bids have been received to set up early years centres of excellence; how many bids it is intended to accept; when the winning bids will be announced; and if he will publish the criteria by which bids will be judged. [37764]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe intend to designate 25 Early Excellence Centres in a pilot phase to 1999–2000; the first seven were announced on 1 December 1997. Over 100 proposals have been received for designation in 1998–99. An announcement will be made in the late Spring. The criteria were set out in the Department's letter of 8 August 1997, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.