§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [104306]
§ Beverley HughesThe Department currently provides 180 nursery places for children under the age of five years. These places are available to Home Office staff (including the agencies) at a variety of locations. These arrangements involve a subsidy of up to 50 per cent. of the contractual running costs depending on local circumstances. The cost to the Department for providing these facilities is approximately £369,000 per year, depending on take up of the places available.
In addition to these facilities the United Kingdom Passport Service, the Forensic Science Service and the Police Information Technology Organisation run child care voucher and allowance schemes, which provide staff with the opportunity to receive a contribution towards professional child care fees.