§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 1999,Official Report, column 483, what plans he has to measure the present participation rate of three-year-olds in early education in Southampton in order to measure progress with his target to double that rate. [71980]
§ Ms HodgeThe Government's target is to double the proportion of three-year-old children in free early education places to 66 per cent. across England by 2001–02; a target participation rate will be set for each Local Education Authority which will enable us to meet that national target. The present participation rate and plans for expansion will be described in each Local Education Authority area's Early Years Development and Child Care Plan.