HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 cc979-80W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in providing pre-school places for three-year-olds. [94274]

Ms Hodge

We are well on the way to achieving our aim of doubling the number of free places for three-year-olds by 190,000 by 2002. £40 million has been allocated this year to 57 local education authorities with the greatest social need and 80 per cent. of the places provided are in the private and voluntary sector. This will be followed by £100 million for all local education authorities next year and £250 million in 2001–02. This is the first time government has specifically targeted funding on the provision of nursery places for three-year-olds.