§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what child care provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this child care; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98. [59718]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department and its agencies provide 15 workplace nurseries at an average cost to parents of £72 per week for a full time place. These facilities, together with a number of places purchased in off-site private sector nurseries provide some 600 places to the children of Service and civilian personnel working in Ministry of Defence establishments. In addition, my Department subsidises a number of places in holiday playschemes for children of school age. Information about the number and proportion of Service and civilian personnel who used these facilities during the last two financial years is not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.