§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many child care places for under-8s have been available in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what was the breakdown of places available through(a) day nurseries, (b) pre-school playgroups and (c) child minders. [116083]
§ Ms HodgeThe available information is shown in the following table. This information was also published on 22 December 1999 in the Statistical Volume "Children's Day care Facilities at 31 March 1999", which is available in the Library.
Child care places in day nurseries, child minders and playgroups, 1997–99 As at 31 March Day nurseries1 Total places Child minders2 Total places Playgroups1 Total places 19993 247,700 337,000 347,200 19983 223,000 370,700 383,600 19973 193,800 365,200 383,700 1 The totals include local authority provided, registered and non-registered for day nurseries, and playgroups. 2 Local authority provided and other registered persons for child minders. 3 These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 as appropriate.