Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to ensure that local authorities are regularly informed by his Department of households in their area in receipt of universal credit in which a child is or is about to be two years’ old to ensure that local authorities can promote free early years education entitlement for two-year-olds to qualifying households; and if he will make a statement.

Early Years Education for Disadvantaged 2 Year Olds is a policy of the Department for Education which aims to ensure that less advantaged children can benefit from high quality early education by providing 15 hours of free early years education and childcare.

Entitlement to early education is based on criteria set by the Department for Education.

The Department for Work and Pensions has a system in place to provide Department for Education with information of eligible households, including qualifying households who are in receipt of Universal Credit and other legacy benefits.

We are working closely with the Department for Education to improve our data-sharing process and ensure the accuracy of information that is provided.