§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local education authorities of carrying out the audit of supply of, and demand for, childcare required under the National Childcare Strategy; [57698]
(2) what money has been made available to local education authorities to carry out audits of the supply of, and demand for, childcare, as required under the National Childcare Strategy. [57700]
§ Ms HodgeI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, East (Mr. Howarth) on 16 July 1998,Official Report, column 301. I can confirm that £12 million has now been made available to help local partnerships conduct audits and draw up local childcare plans.