HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 cc1052-3W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many child care places for under eights have been available in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by places available through(a) day nurseries, (b) pre-school playgroups and (c) child minders; and what estimate he has made of the number of such places which will be available over the period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review. [132402]

Ms Hodge

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Ms Keeble

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional child care and nursery places were created in Northampton between 1997 and 2000. [131944]

Ms Hodge

Since this Government came to office, 120,000 new, free, early education places have been created for three and four-year-olds nationally. We have provided sufficient funding to ensure that all four-year-olds and over 35 per cent. of three-year-olds in the Northamptonshire area receive a free, part-time, early education place.

With regard to out-of-school and pre-school child care places no information is available prior to 1999–2000 on a constituency basis. However, in 1999–2000, a total of 201 new child care places were created in Northampton.