§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what child care facilities his Department provides for its employees; what facilities were provided in 1992; and how many employees have used child care facilities in each year since 1992. [6453]
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 28 November 1996]The Treasury offers staff subsidised places on the Westminster holiday playscheme, makes contributions to additional child care costs when staff are required to work additional or irregular hours, offers paid or unpaid special leave to enable staff to care for sick children or close relatives and since 1994 has been a corporate member of Parents at Work, which offers information and advice on child care issues. Subject to a satisfactory performance and attendance record, staff are also allowed to take a career break of up to five years in addition to the statutory maternity entitlement, and are kept in touch with the organisation during this time.
In 1992 the Treasury also held two places in a Westminster-based nursery for emergency use when staff's normal child care arrangements broke down. However, very low usage meant this arrangement was eventually discontinued.
Records of the number of staff who are allowed special leave for domestic purposes are not held centrally. Records are unable to show career breaks taken for domestic reasons as a separate category from other career breaks. The number of staff claiming contributions to additional child care costs and those using the Westminster holiday playscheme in the years requested are set out in the table.
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Staff claiming additional childcare contributions 9 2 7 5 19 Staff using the Westminster Holiday Playscheme 18 19 25 21 119 1To date.