§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision his Department makes for child care facilities for staff; what subsidy is provided for(a) nursery places and (b) holiday play schemes; if he will list the organisations used by his Department for child care; and if child care vouchers are made available to staff. [30011]
§ Angela EagleChild care provision enables staff to combine their work and domestic responsibilities and helps promote and sustain equal opportunities policies. My Department supports child care facilities in accordance with existing central guidance. Parents are required to make a contribution towards the costs but subsidies up to a maximum of 50 per cent. of the cost of places are provided. Child care vouchers are not currently made available to staff. Current support for places at inter-departmental nurseries is as follows:
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Location Number of Places Contractor Subsidy per week per place Westminster 10 (divided between two nurseries) Westminster Children's Society £73 or £78 depending on nursery ie 50% subsidy Bristol 3.5 Acorn £38 for under twos ie 35% subsidy and £28 for over twos ie 29% subsidy Hastings 4 Kinderquest £32 ie 33% subsidy Inter-departmental holiday play schemes are operated at various locations throughout the country including Westminster, Bristol, Birmingham and Bedford. Apart from the Westminster scheme, full details are not held centrally but subsidies are made available. The Westminster scheme details are as follows:
Location DETR places Contractor DETR subsidy Westminster Varies—up to 15 places kinderquest £8.05 per child per day ie 50% Chief Executives are responsible for the implementation of equal opportunities policies in DETR agencies, including child care provision. Details are not held centrally.