§ Mr. Ivan HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional out-of-school childcare clubs have been started since he announced the Lottery-financed initiative to provide them. [28259]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe New Opportunities Fund will provide £220 million for out-of-school childcare schemes between 1999 and 2003. We do not expect the Fund to invite bids until early 1999. However, the Out-of-School Childcare Initiative (OSCI) has so far created 5,278 new childcare places in this financial year (1 April to 28 December 1997) and for 1998–99 we have more than doubled OSCI funding (from £4.1 million to £10.1 million) which we expect to create a further 20,000 new places.