Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has taken steps to enable English local authorities to claim back funding for childcare places for children living in England who access free childcare in Wales; and if he will make a statement .

Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure free early education in their area for children who are eligible. Education and the entitlement to free childcare for pre-school children in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, and I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services.