To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of registered child minders were (a) male and (b) female in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (274288)

The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information about the numbers and proportions of male and female staff in the child care and early years providers workforce. Table 1 shows the numbers of childminders that were male and female in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Data on numbers of childminders of each sex are not available prior to 2005, although the data on the proportions are available for 2003. Table 2 shows the proportions of childminders that were male and female in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. No data are available on proportions or numbers prior to 2003.