§ Ms ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families receiving family credit currently make child care arrangements by(a) child minding, (b) playgroups, (c) workplace nurseries, (d) nurseries and (e) a nanny; and what information he has on the costs of each type of arrangement.
§ Mr. BurtInformation about the child care arrangements of families receiving family credit is not available. Information about families in general is in the tables and further elaborated in the sources quoted, copies of which are in the Library.
Weekly cost of child care Working parents group Percentage that pay Average weekly cost £ All working parents 23 30.70 Working couples 22 32.40 Working lone parents 29 24.60
Low income working lone parents Percentage that pay Average weekly cost £ Lone parents 19 N/a Lone parents working full-time 27 21.50 N/a—Not available.
Cost of professional1 child care All working parents Type of care used Average weekly cost £ Professional care as sole method 42.40 Two methods of child care, professional/non-professional 30.00 1"Professional"—not care provided by friends and relatives. Sources:
PSI reports—Families, Work and the Use of Childcare (Employment Gazette, August 1993.)
Families, Work and Benefits (September 1993).