§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. HeseltineThere are five headquarters offices and 17 other offices in central London. In addition, my Department has nine main regional offices, most of which are shared with other Government Departments, as well as over 50 offices throughout the country, including property holdings and my Department's three agencies, but excluding PSA Services.
None of these offices has an on-site nursery or provides after school child care facilities. A number of interdepartmental holiday playschemes are in operation in Westminster, Birmingham, Bedford, Bristol, Nottingham, Newcastle and Manchester. These are all open to the Department's staff and parents have been charged up to £5 per day per child for the use of the facilities. The Department will also be participating in a proposed interdepartmental nursery scheme in Westminster.
Expenditure in 1990–91 is estimated at £10,000. Future expenditure is difficult to estimate. Many factors are involved, including joint funding arrangements, demand, value for money of individual schemes and other departmental priorities.