HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 cc1492-3W
Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spends on(a) child care provision for under-fives and (b) out-of-school provision for the over-fives, both directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, and indirectly through resources made available to local authorities and other organisations; what form of provision is provided; and how many full-time and part-time places are provided. [35551]

Mr. Roger Evans

In October 1994, we introduced help with child care charges in family credit, disability working allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit. The scheme applies where the charges are incurred for a child under 11 who is cared for by a registered childminder, play scheme or day nursery. In the long term, we estimate 150,000 families will benefit, including 50,000 taking up work, and that the help will cost up to £60 million.

The new provisions will provide a substantial contribution to child care charges and increase the effectiveness of family credit, in particular, as an incentive for families to find and remain in employment.