Ruth Scammell

NEW figures have revealed that Portsmouth is doing better than most areas of the country when educating children up to the age of five.

Figures released by the Department for Education showed that more Portsmouth four to five-year-olds have achieved a good level of development. The figures show the city is ahead of the national average on measures for early years education.

They show that last year, 64 per cent of four to five-year-olds achieved a good level of personal, social and emotional development.

This compares to 58 per cent across Hampshire and 59 per cent nationally. It puts Portsmouth in the top 30 of 152 council areas in England.

Councillor Rob Wood, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for children and education, said: ‘These figures are a tribute to the jobEconomic Survey: FDI in telecom sector plunges by 96% to $70.46 mn

New Delhi: The country's telecom sector has seen sharp decline in foreign investor interest with FDI plummeting by 96 percent to USD 70.46 million in April to November 2012 period, the Economic Survey on Wednesday said.

The sector saw Foreign Direct Investment of USD 1,987.18 million for the same period a year ago.

The cumulative Foreign Direct Investment in the sector from April 2000 to November 2012 period stood at USD 12.62 billion.

The sector saw decline of bank credit throughout the financial year 2011-12 from 17.77 percent to 15.21 cent, the Survey said.

With a marginal rise in bank credit share at 15.55 percent for the telecom sector in first quarter of FY 2012-13, credit to the industry further declined