§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the proportion of nursery education places financed by the voucher scheme and provided by (i) local authorities, (ii) the private sector and (iii) the voluntary sector in each education authority area in Scotland in 1997–98. [31714]
§ Mr. WilsonApproaching 90 per cent. of the identified eligible children have redeemed vouchers. The proportion of redemptions in each sector is set out in the table for each local authority area.
87W
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he plans to take to maintain the current proportion of nursery places provided by private and voluntary groups after the voucher system ends. [31715]
§ Mr. WilsonAs I have already made clear in the consultation paper "Education in Early Childhood: the Pre-School Years", I expect local authorities to consider carefully the opportunities for working in partnership with voluntary and private pre-school centres in their areas; and to commission places from centres accredited by HM Inspectors of Schools wherever this makes a cost-effective contribution to supply.
Authorities will be invited to say how they wish the total grant for their area split between provision at their own hand and places they intend to purchase in the private and voluntary sectors. In making these proposals authorities will wish to take into account that some 14,000 children are at present accessing education places provided by private and voluntary centres across Scotland. I also expect them to consider carefully the needs and preferences of parents, including those in, or seeking, employment.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he will use to determine whether a local authority has entered into an effective partnership with the private and voluntary sectors to provide nursery places for financial year 1998–99. [31716]
§ Mr. WilsonThe consultation paper "Education in Early Childhood: The Pre-School Years" encouraged local authorities to consider the scope for collaborating with the voluntary and private sectors to expand provision for pre-school children. It invited comments on the kinds of partnership which might be most effective and how authorities might draw on relevant experience in this area. Responses to the consultation are now being analysed. I intend to review in the autumn authorities' progress in developing partnerships of all kinds.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the criteria for allocating central grant for nursery education in fiscal year 1998–99. [31718]
§ Mr. WilsonI am currently considering responses to the funding issues raised in the consultation paper "Education in Early Childhood: The Pre-School Years" and I expect to make an announcement later this month on how resources are to be distributed.