Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 March 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Monday, 8 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research he has conducted into the funding of private providers for the nursery education grant scheme for three and four year olds following removal of the ring-fencing of funds for local authorities; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figure.

Answer: Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has conducted into the funding of private providers for the nursery education grant scheme for three and four year olds following removal of the ring-fencing of funds for local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [155830] Margaret Hodge: There has been no specific research of private providers following the consolidation of resources in the under-fives sub-block of their Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)--the main source of funding for education. The percentage of three and four year olds benefiting from free part-time early education in the private and voluntary sector in January 2003 was 32 per cent., up from 23 per cent. in January 2002.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c1347W;418 c1349-50W; 155830
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Finance Private sector Pre-school education Nurseries Ringfenced funding Nursery education grant scheme
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk