§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workplace nursery facilities have been financially assisted from Government resources; and if he will list where each is located.
§ Mr. StewartThe provision of welfare benefits at the workplace is a matter for the employer concerned. However, in the 1990 Budget we introduced tax relief under the normal business tax rules for an employer's day-to-day expenditure on child care provision for employees' children. This was a carefully targeted measure, aimed at encouraging employers to increase the supply of good quality nursery care and to help them meet expected changes in workforce patterns over the 1990s.
In Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise has provided £440,000 for the Glasgow development agency to establish The Partnership Nurseries Company which aims to provide additional nursery places in and around the city centre. Sixty-four such places will be provided initially when the company starts operations.