§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who has responsibility for the strategic overview of Government policy for the maintenance of pre-school learning provision. [123104]
§ Ms HodgeThe Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Government's early education policy. The statutory duty to secure free early education places for all four-year-olds rests with local education authorities. Together with their Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, they have responsibility for planning and monitoring the sufficient supply of high quality early education places in their area.