HC Deb 24 March 2003 vol 402 cc40-1W
Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many(a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs there were in England on (i) 31 March 2002 and (ii) 31 March 2001: [101156]

(2) when the Government will publish official statistics for the number of (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs in England on 31 March 2002. [101158]

Maria Eagle

The available information is shown in the table.

Number of day care providers by type1 England
Position at 31 March 2001 Number
Day nurseries2 7,800
Registered childminders2 72,300
Out of school clubs3 4,900
1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
2 Day nurseries and childminders provide care for children under eight years of age.
3 Out of school clubs provide care for five to seven year old children.

The latest figures on Children's Day Care Facilities in England were published by the Department in the Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 2001" in October 2001, for the position at March 2001. Responsibility for the registration of day care facilities for children under eight was transferred from local authorities to OFSTED in September 2001. Figures for the position at March 2002 will not be available before OFSTED completes the compilation of its register of childcare providers, after March 2003.

Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend childcare centres to cover 30 per cent. of the most disadvantaged communities. [101157]

Maria Eagle

The Government's long-term aim is that all children living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards have access to children's centre services. By March 2006 we plan to reach at least 650,000 of these children—around two-thirds of those living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards— and to create nearly 43,000 extra childcare places for them. We are investing some £435 million over the next three years to meet these targets. In many cases children's centres will he developed from existing provision, such as Sure Start local programmes and Neighbourhood Nurseries, building on their success.

We cannot currently estimate costs for extending reach beyond the planned 650,000 children until we have a better understanding of the different costs involved in establishing children's centres.