§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what child care provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this child care; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98. [59719]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonChild care provision is an integral part of my Department's equal opportunities policy. It enables staff to combine their work and domestic responsibilities and helps the Department to maximise talent. Child care provision is one of a range of "family friendly" measures provided and continuing to be developed; others include 18 weeks paid maternity leave at full pay, career breaks up to five years; 5 days paid paternity leave, special leave for domestic emergencies, flexible working, including part-time working, job sharing and home working.
My Department supports child care provision in accordance with existing central guidance where there is a business case and a value for money justification which meets both staff and organisational needs. Subsidies are provided but parents are required to make a contribution towards the cost. Supported workplace nursery places are available for staff at inter-departmental nurseries in Westminster, Hastings and Bristol. In the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 the cost to parents was as follows:
£ Nursery Year 1996–97 cost per week per place Year 1997–98 cost per week per place Westminster 74 76 Hastings 64 64 Bristol 70 70 Staff with school age children benefit from inter-departmental holiday play schemes at various locations, including Westminster and Bristol at an average cost to parents of £8 per child per day.
In the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 the number of parents using these facilities was 54 and 41 respectively, representing 1 per cent. of total staff.
These figures related to the central department only. Agency Chief Executives are responsible for equal opportunities policies, including child care provision, in the agencies.