§ Mr. HendrickTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many child care places have been created in Preston since 1997; [168114]
(2) how many children in Preston have gained from the National Childcare Strategy. [168131]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Preston. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Lancashire local authority created 20,860 new child care places helping some 36,821 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 9,046 helping some 16,274 children.