§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. LeighThe Department's staff work at 155 locations which are based mainly within 12 towns and cities in the United Kingdom. None yet has on-site nursery or after-school child care facilities.
This year the Department's staff will have access to jointly organised holiday playschemes in four areas. The details are:
1991 Expected charge per child per day £ Expected net cost £ Birmingham 14.00 500 23.00 Bristol 5.00 100 Cardiff 4.00 Nil London (Westminster) 5.00 2,000 1 For first child. 2 For other children. Future expenditure will depend upon reviews which are being conducted in a number of locations. New child care facilities will be supported where they can be continued within running cost provisions, and where they offer good value for money. We expect, for example, to provide a DTI-only holiday playscheme in London.
The Department fully recognises the importance of its working mothers, and the need to offer appropriate working conditions. Within a programme of action to increase equality of opportunity for women at all levels we have, for example, introduced flexible working patterns, and a career break scheme which incorporates a right of return to work for up to five years.