§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.
§ Mr. ButcherThe DTI encourages child care schemes where there is a clear need, where the scheme is financially viable without continuing subsidy and commands sufficient local support for its effective administration.
Any scheme would need to be financially self-supporting, although accommodation would be provided free of charge if it were available and suitable. In the event that accommodation was not available the Department would be prepared to cover the cost of securing outside premises for the first year of operation. There are at present no schemes operating in this Department. However, discussions have been held which may result in the setting-up of holiday play schemes in south Wales, and interdepartmentally, in London.