§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department has just under 500 workplaces. One workplace has an on-site nursery, but staff in other workplaces have access to another 23 nursery schemes provided by other Government Departments or private organisations.
Sixty-five workplaces have access to places to holiday play schemes, and three have access to after-school child care.
Child care charges vary by scheme and location —the main criterion is the provision of good value for money. The charge to staff for nurseries ranges from £20 to £55 per week; for holiday play schemes from £1.50 to £7 per day; and for after-school child care from £1.00 to £1.30 an hour.
In 1990–91 £1.6 million was allocated for expenditure on child care. Specific allocations for later years are not made centrally.