§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 years440W (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. [59716]
§ Mr. MorleyThe demand for child care provision for members of staff is regularly reviewed in MAFF and its Agencies through staff surveys.
441WThe Ministry and some of its Agencies provide both subsidised nursery places and holiday play schemes for staff with children, where these can be justified by a sound business case. Some of these are in facilities shared with other organisations.
Nursery places available to MAFF and Agency staff:
- 1 April 1996: 80
- 1 April 1997: 120
- 1 April 1998: 130.
At 1 April 1998 costs to parents for full time places varied between £50 and £90 a week, reflecting local costs, facilities and value for money.
Holiday play schemes have been made available to staff at ten Ministry and Agency locations throughout the country over the period from 1 April 1996 to 1 April 1998. Daily costs to parents during 1997–98 varied between £4.50 and £9.
The number of parents who benefit from these child care facilities is usually greater than the number of places available because of turnover, availability of part time places and the option to use holiday play schemes for only part of a holiday.
Child care provision is only one of the family friendly measures and arrangements available to staff in MAFF and its Agencies. Others include: flexible and part time working, career breaks, special leave for domestic emergencies, and paternity and maternity leave on full pay.