§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many extra child care places for(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire he estimates will be created under the expenditure announced in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report; and if he will make a statement. [101140]
§ Mr. WicksMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced that expenditure to assist further education students with child care costs will increase from £5 million this year to £21 million in 2000–01. These amounts add to the approximately £4 million a year which is already provided by the Further Education Funding Council. This increase includes the additional funding referred to by the Chancellor in his Pre-Budget Report. It is expected that in 2001–02 we will assist about 37,000 students. The funding will be made a ring-fenced element within the Further Education Access Fund and will be allocated to colleges through a formula which takes account of student numbers and widening participation factors. Colleges will be told of their allocation by March 2000.