§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the regional variation in cost of child care; and if she will make a statement. [99050]
§ Maria EagleThe Government appreciate that the cost of child care can be high, especially for parents with babies or young children needing full day care and that there are regional differences in the cost.
Working parents, subject to the level of their income, may receive support through the child care tax credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit or the Disabled Person's Tax Credit (Working Tax Credit from April 2003). Tax credit is rightly targeted at lower and middle income families who may use a range of types of child care.
The cost of child care reported in the Department for Education and Skills 2001–02 audit shows an England average of £101.01 a week for full day care and £132.49 for London—the region with the highest child care costs. The child care tax credit provides for up to 70 per cent. of costs of eligible child care. It can pay up to £94.50 a week for one child (where the child care cost is £135), and up to £140 a week for two or more children (where the cost is £200). No Government have provided 294W the kind of direct support for the costs of child care that is delivered by the child care tax credit.£1 million a day is now spent on supporting parents with child care costs.
In addition, support is also available through various grants and access funds for parents undertaking further and higher education, for participants on the New Deals and those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance. Lone Parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents programme, can receive assistance with the costs of registered child care while attending job interviews, approved training and meetings with their Personal Advisors.
The DfES and the Inland Revenue will continue to monitor the cost o f child care to ensure good quality affordable and accessible child care is available for all those who need it.