To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of the funding for the extension of the free entitlement to nursery care to all two-year-olds nationwide and (b) the ability of the private, voluntary and independent sector to meet the costs of these places. (227441)

We are currently working with our delivery partners to develop plans to extend the free early education entitlement for two-year-olds. 63 local authorities are currently delivering up to 15 hours of free provision to the most deprived two-year-olds. £100 million funding is available to fund this pilot until April 2011. The child care strategy announced in June and to be published by the end of this year, will set out next steps. The funding for the next stages of the child care strategy will be taken in the light of the wider fiscal position.