§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
What is the current value of the vouchers which may be claimed by staff of the House for childcare purposes.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)The current value of the vouchers which may be claimed by staff who are eligible is £6.00 per family per day. This amount is taxable.
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§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether he is satisfied that the current childcare allowance for House of Lords staff sufficiently meets the cost of providing adequate childminding facilities in central London; and, if not, whether the Administration and Works Sub-Committee will reconsider its decision not to provide crèche facilities within the Palace of Westminster.
§ The Chairman of CommitteesThe issue of childcare vouchers to House of Lords staff is not intended to cover the whole cost of childcare but is a contribution to that cost, in order to assist staff with small children to continue working. As the vouchers can be used anywhere, their value does not have to reflect the value of childminding facilities in central London. The value of the vouchers will be reviewed from time to time. Childcare provision for House of Lords staff using the voucher scheme is very popular in its existing form.