§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants in his Department are assisting with the review of childcare policy; what(a) organisations from outside the Department and (b) other Departments are assisting with the review; what body or committee within the Department is co-ordinating the review; when he expects to publish the review; and if he will make a statement. [158131]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 2 March 2004]: I have been asked to reply.
The Childcare Review was announced by the Chancellor in Budget 2003. An inter-departmental ministerial steering group was set up to oversee the review, jointly chaired by Margaret Hodge and me.
A working group of officials, supporting the ministerial steering group, is chaired by HM Treasury, with representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, the Women and Equality Unit, the Social Exclusion Unit at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and No. 10. Within HM Treasury and the Sure Start Unit most of the work being done by the review would have been required anyway for the Spending Review. There are no civil servants working 1101W full time on the Childcare Review and those working on it have taken it on as part of their normal responsibilities.
The review has consulted external bodies, receiving 50 responses, and held bi-lateral meetings with the main groups working in this area.
The results of the review will be reflected in the Spending Review, the outcome of which will be published in the summer.