§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sources of external funding are available to support nursery, creche and playcare 715W schemes held at education establishments attended by numbers of women returners and retainees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department does not collect information on the extent to which employers or others support the provision of child-care facilities at educational institutions.
REPLAN, funded jointly by the Department and the Welsh Office to promote educational opportunities for the adult unemployed, last year carried out a survey of childcare provision in institutions of higher education. I am placing copies in the Library.
Under the education support grants scheme administered by the Department, expenditure totalling £2 million will be available to local education authorities in each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 to support the development of measures to increase the recruitment of former teachers and mature entrants to teaching. These measures may include the provision of creche and other child-care facilities, as well as more flexible working practices. Out of 45 successful bids supported, 17 LEAs will receive funding for child-care initiatives amounting to nearly £150,000.
I am sure that employers will wish to explore every avenue when considering ways to encourage women back into the work-force, including the possibilities of co-operating with educational institutions in the provision of child-care facilities.