§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of workplaces for civil servants in his Department; what proportion of the total number have an on-site nursery facility; how many and what proportion of workplaces provide a holiday play scheme; how many and what proportion of workplaces provide after-school child care facilities; what charges are made for use of any facility; what the net cost has been for the provision of these facilities; and what estimate he can make of any future expenditure.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department of Transport has 797 workplaces for civil servants, of which 43 house more than 50 staff each. An on-site nursery is provided at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in Swansea. Holiday playschemes will be available to DTp staff in Birmingham, Coventry, Exeter, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham, Swansea and central London in or near the workplace. After-school child care facilities are not provided. Typical charges for holiday play schemes are under £5 per child per day. The nursery charges parents £44.50 per child per week. Net costs for the provisions of these facilities, most of which are run in conjunction with other employers, are modest but precise figures are not readily available. Departmental policy is to continue to expand provision in co-operation with other Government Departments and private employers where this offers value for money.