§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the(a) women who are mothers and (b) men who are fathers who are employed by his Department have received assistance from the Department with child care. [1293]
§ Mr. BoswellAlthough the Ministry and its executive agencies collect statistical information on staff employed, this does not include information on the parental status of individual staff. It would not be appropriate to request this information and it would be difficult to justify its collection.
The Ministry and its agencies support 120 nursery places and holiday play schemes are run at a number of sites across the country. Some sites provide information for staff on local child care opportunities. In addition, staff may seek reimbursement of certain additional child care costs associated with a break in the normal working routine such as attendance at training courses.