§ Mr. HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's policy on pre-school education in Northern Ireland [93492]
§ Mr. McFall[holding answer 20 October 1999]: This Government are committed to the development of pre-school education in Northern Ireland and are taking forward a four year expansion programme, through partnership between the statutory, voluntary and private sectors, to provide over 9,000 additional pre-school places. By 2001–02, £38 million will have been spent in almost doubling pre-school education provision in Northern Ireland.