§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new child care places have been created since 1 May 1997. [27076]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe number of new out of school child care places created by the Out of School Childcare Initiative is collected cumulatively within each financial year. For the financial year 1997–98, 5,278 new places have been created up to 28 December 1997.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost of a current child care place; and what was the average cost in 1996. [27077]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe average cost of child care places is not collected on a national basis. However, the third evaluation of Out of School Childcare Initiative, based on a survey of 145 schemes and undertaken in the second half of 1997, found that the average weekly charge for an after-school place was £18.60, a before and after school place £29.50, and a holiday place £50.40. The report was published on 22 January and a copy has been placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many child care places were created by the out of school child care initiative in each of the years(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [27075]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe number of new out of school child care places created by the Out of School Childcare Initiative is collected on a financial year basis and is as follows: in 1994–95, 22,286 places, in 1995–96 35,182 places, and in 1996–97 12,446 places.