§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of workplaces for civil servants in his Office and in the Northern Ireland Departments; 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.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Northern Ireland civil service and the Northern Ireland Office have staff based in 341 buildings throughout the Province and in London.
657WThere are no on-site nurseries or after-school child care facilities provided. However, the feasibility of establishing a nursery in Northern Ireland is currently being investigated and nursery facilities for London-based staff are being sought with larger Government Departments and private companies.
Three holiday play schemes have been established in Northern Ireland. They are not located in Government buildings but they serve staff working or living in the Ballymena, Londonderry and Stormont areas. Additional schemes will be set up in the future in areas where the demand for them exists. The small home civil service part of the Northern Ireland Office in London can link into schemes already set up by larger Departments and hopes to be able to take advantage of any new schemes.
The charges to parents using holiday play schemes range from £3 to £4 per child per day. The Northern Ireland civil service made grants of approximately £8,000 to fund the three holiday play schemes in 1990–91. Future expenditure on these schemes is expected to continue at the same level; if additional schemes are set up grants will be paid to them on a similar basis.