§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Further to his reply of 17 July (WA 119), why child care vouchers do not appear to be issued to staff of the House not required to work during Recesses; whether he is aware that most nurseries require continuous payment in order to keep the child's place open (irrespective of attendance of the child); and whether assistance will be provided to those members of staff who can show that they will lose their nursery place due to the lack of child care vouchers.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)Child care vouchers are issued to enable a parent to come to work at the House; they are not therefore issued when there is no requirement to attend. The Establishment Office is aware that some nurseries may require continuous payment but does not consider that this in any way invalidates its child care voucher policy and no further extension is proposed.
§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether he is aware of any hardship caused to staff of the House by the non-availability of child care vouchers on days in which they do not work during Recesses.
§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether there has been any change in policy this year as to the availability of child care vouchers for staff of the House not required to work during the summer Recess.
§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether child care vouchers are issued to staff of the House who fall sick; and, if not, whether assistance will be provided to staff who can produce a doctor's certificate to the effect that they are medically unfit to look after a child and therefore require the services of a nursery or childminder.
§ The Chairman of CommitteesChild care vouchers continue to be issued to eligible staff who are absent through sickness, on the same basis as for other staff, provided their doctor testifies that they are unable to look after their child.