To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children (a) have participated in the Every Child a Reader programme in each financial year since its inception and (b) are expected to participate in the Every Child a Reader programme in each financial year until 2010-11. (153367)

Since the inception of the three year Every Child a Reader (ECAR) pilot, 542 children participated in the pilot in 2005-06, 1,750 children in 2006-07 and we estimate that 2,340 children will participate in 2007-08.

The Every Child a Reader programme will roll-out nationally from 2008-09. no decisions about the delivery have yet been taken but 30,000 children will benefit from the programme by 2010-11.