HC Deb 11 December 2001 vol 376 cc811-2W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pre-schools have closed since 1997 in(a) England and (b) the Buckingham constituency. [17841]

Margaret Hodge

The Department collects information on playgroups and pre-schools defined in terms of the sessional care that they provide for children aged mainly between three and five. It does not collect information on pre-schools separately from playgroups.

Information for England and Buckinghamshire Local Authority area is shown in the table.

Number of playgroups and pre-schools
1997 2001
England1 15,800 14,000
Buckinghamshire LA area2 290 200
1Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Figures for 2001 for England and Government Office Region were published in Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities as at 31 March 2001", which is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ and from the Library.

Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pre-schools have closed since 1997 in(a) England and (b) Arundel and South Downs. [18330]

Margaret Hodge

The Department collects information on playgroups and pre-schools defined in terms of the sessional care that they provide for children aged mainly between three and five. It does not collect information on pre-schools separately from playgroups.

The available information for England and West Sussex Local Authority area is shown in the table.

Number of playgroups and pre-schools
1997 2001
England1 15,800 14,000
West Sussex LA area2 350 300
1Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 1Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Note:

Local Authorities provided the data.

Figures for 2001 for England and Government Office Region were published in Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities as at 31 March 2001", which is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ and from the Library.