Child Care (Hansard, 27 April 1998)

§ Ms Ruddock

Child care is a priority for the Ministers for Women and we have worked with colleagues across government in the last year on initiatives to help parents, particularly women, with paying for childcare.

The Government announced in March that a new Child care Tax Credit will be introduced from October 1999, as part of Working Families Tax Credit. This will cover 70 per cent. of all weekly childcare costs up to an overall limit of £100 for families with a single child and £150 for multi-child families. The tax credit will replace the child care disregard in Family Credit and other income-related benefits.

In addition, the Chancellor announced a major boost to child care in the Pre-Budget statement in November. £300 million is being made available to set up 30,000 out of school projects, which will provide places for up to one million children. Out of school clubs for children before and after school, and in the holidays. This is a tenfold

Number of tribunals attended and unattended by the appellant and/or a representative
	Appeals heard	All attendances	Not attended
Quarter ending	(Total number)	(Total number)	(Per cent.)	(Total number)	(Per cent.)
31 December	28,048	17,470	62.29	10,578	37.71
31 March	25,586	15,907	62.17	9,679	37.83
30 June 1997	31,507	17,092	54.25	14,415	45.75
30 September	36,053	15,962	44.27	20,091	55.73

60W

increase on existing provision, and will mean that every child in Britain will have access to out of school child care in their community.

In the meantime, from June 1998, the Family Credit child care disregard will be enhanced by increasing the maximum child care costs allowed to £100 for families who incur child care costs for two or more children of qualifying age and extending the age limit by one year to the September following the child's 12th birthday.

Since July 1997, lone parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents programme have also been eligible for help with childcare costs of up to £60 per week (or £100 per week for two or more children from June 1998) while undertaking various activities helping them secure a job, for example attending job interviews; attending an interview with the Personal Adviser and attending certain kinds of training courses or programmes.