§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that local education authorities undertake partnerships in respect of the provision of pre-school education in 1999 with providers in the private and voluntary sector. [38628]
§ Mr. WilsonI announced on 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 383 the detailed arrangements for funding pre-school education in the 1998–99 school session. I again confirmed that local authorities carry the lead responsibility for planning, co-ordinating and delivering pre-school services in their area. I expect them to collaborate with providers in the voluntary and private sectors wherever this would best serve the needs of children and their parents and fulfil the principles of 'best value'. Whilst decisions on partnerships will rest with local authorities, I have again drawn their attention to the Government's wider policy goals in welfare reform and the development of a national childcare strategy. It would be counter-productive if expansion of pre-school education services at authorities' own hand inhibited the ability of other sectors to contribute to the Government's overall objectives.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he will use when reviewing progress made by local authorities in establishing partnerships with the private sector to provide pre-school education in 1999. [38629]
§ Mr. WilsonThe autumn review of partnership will look at the full range of possible partnership relations, as set out in last autumn's consultative paper "Education in Early Childhood: The Pre-School Years". It will include an assessment of the volume, type and location of pre-school education places which authorities have decided to commission from the private and voluntary sectors; and it will look at quality assurance initiatives in support of those places. I shall not be seeking to reach judgments about optimal levels of partnership activity, either locally or nationally, although I shall of course consider very seriously any evidence that cost-effective opportunities for partnership are being neglected.