HC Deb 12 February 1996 vol 271 cc648-9
32. Mr. Corbyn

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects provision of on-site child care facilities to be made available in the House. [13050]

Mr. Beith (on behalf of the House of Commons Commission)

In the light of a survey of demand for child care facilities, and following a debate in the House, the Commission decided to introduce a child care voucher scheme in April 1995 for its staff. It provides financial support to qualifying staff who wish to use any of a range of child care facilities at locations which they find convenient. So far, the responsible domestic Committees have not be able to identify a suitable location for on-site facilities in the parliamentary estate, and have not put forward any proposals.

Mr. Corbyn

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that that answer is unbelievably pathetic? The House can apparently manage to find a great deal of money for the refurbishment of the Strangers' Bar, Annie's Bar and the refreshment and dining facilities that are provided ad nauseam, often for private catering, while the only children's facilities in the entire building consist of one shelf of out-of-date children's books in the Members' Family Room. Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that we should get into the 20th century before the 21st century overtakes us and provide a fully staffed on-site nursery in this building for Members' and staff's children just as any other sensible institution would provide for its staff?

Mr. Beith

I do not think that the staff using the child care voucher scheme find it pathetic; indeed, they find it helpful. The hon. Gentleman's other points must be passed on to his hon. Friends serving on the Committees that I mentioned.

Mr. Ian Bruce

May I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on the work of his Committee and on providing a voucher scheme for nursery education? I wish that he could encourage some county councils to do the same thing. Has he found that people using the vouchers prefer to send their children for nursery education close to their homes rather than to this building, which may be a long way from their homes?

Mr. Beith

Some people find it more convenient to use facilities nearer to their homes. The Commission hopes to establish the general picture when it reviews the scheme next month, a year after it came into operation.