§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spends on child care; on what provision the sum is spent; how many children receive the child care; and if he will make a statement about child care.
§ Mr. ScottThe net cost of providing subsidised child care facilities for staff in this Department is currently around £500,000 a year. This sum is spent on workplace nurseries, 600 places; holiday play schemes, 2,460 places; after school child care and child care referral services.
These initiatives are supported on value for money grounds in helping to recruit and retain staff and in enabling the staff themselves to balance the demands of home and work.