§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what child care provision was made available in the financial year 1998–99 for use by(a) departmental staff and (b) employees of executive agencies under the control of her Department; what was the cost to parents of this child care; and how many parents used the facilities. [108859]
§ Clare ShortWe provide holiday playschemes at both our Headquarter sites.
The site in East Kilbride operates under partnership between DFID and the Inland Revenue. The site in London is part of the Whitehall Holiday Playscheme, run by the Cabinet Office at three sites in Central London and open to a large proportion of Government Departments. The figures requested are as follows:
East Kilbride
- Cost to parents:
- £10 annual registration fee per family
- £7.50 per child per day
- Parents using the facilities in the financial year 1998–99:
- Number—10
London
- Cost to parents:
- Total cost per child per day £17.03
- Of which: £8.51 is paid by the parent and £8.52 by DFID
- Parents using the facilities in the financial year 1998–99
- Number—16.
Providing access to the holiday playscheme is one of a range of family friendly policies that are available to staff. Other benefits include paid maternity leave at full pay, paternity leave, parental leave, extended career breaks (up to a maximum of five years) and special leave for domestic emergencies. To help staff balance work and family life, they are also able to apply to work part-time or flexible hours, to job-share or to work from home.
The Department for International Development has no executive agencies.