§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; 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. [59728]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department has made provision for subsidised nursery places and an on-site holiday playscheme in London, and an on-site nursery and a holiday playscheme, funded jointly with the Benefits Agency, in Leeds. Childcare vouchers are available to staff in North and South Thames Regional Offices of the National Health Service Executive. The NHS Pensions Agency provides a subsidy towards the cost of a holiday playscheme for its staff. The Department also provides a range of family friendly policies including 16 weeks' paid maternity leave; extended career breaks (up to 5 years); 5 days' paternity leave; and other measures to help staff balance work and family life including jobshare, part-time working, homeworking and term-time only working.
The table shows the cost to parents of provision. Information on the use of facilities is not available in the form requested. The places available are set out in the table. The number of staff in post in the Department is 4,768.
A review of the Department's current childcare provision is underway.
§ Mr. FatchettWe have received no further assurances from the Israeli government that no new building permits will be issued for Jewish housing units in Gaza and the West Bank. But the Israeli Cabinet endorsed the Wye River Memorandum on 12 November and we expect the Israeli government to abide by the letter and the spirit of the agreement, which prohibits either side from taking any steps to change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We have made it clear to Israel that we regard the initiation and encouragement of settlement activity as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, 569W and we recently informed them of our concern at the issuing of tenders for construction at Har Homa in East Jerusalem.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Israel on the implementation of the Wye Accord. [60163]
§ Mr. FatchettMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has written twice to the Israeli Prime Minister since the Wye Memorandum was signed in Washington on 23 October to congratulate him on this achievement, and to stress the importance of swift implementation. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has also been in touch with key political contacts in Israel to express our concern at the delays in implementation. We trust that, following Cabinet approval of the Wye agreement on 11 November, full implementation will begin in accordance with the timeline established at Wye.