HC Deb 10 April 2000 vol 348 cc51-2W
Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what childcare provision was made available in the financial year 1998–99 for use by (i) his departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department; what was the cost to parents of this childcare; and how many parents used the facilities. [108836]

Mr. Wills

The information is as follows:

(i) Provision for DfEE Employees Workplace Nurseries are available for departmental staff working in Sheffield and Runcorn. The Sheffield nursery has places for 50 children aged six months to school age. The Runcorn nursery has places for 35 children aged three months to school age. Playschemes, operating during the school holidays, are available for DfEE staff working in Sheffield, Runcorn, Darlington and London.

(ii) Provision for Employees of Executive Agencies The workplace nursery and playscheme located in Sheffield are available to Employment Service Head Office employees working in Sheffield.

(iii) Costs

  • 98–99 the costs to parents per day were as follows:
    • Sheffield nursery £12.00
    • Runcorn nursery £12.60
    • Sheffield playscheme £6.50
    • Runcorn playscheme £8.00
    • Darlington playscheme £6.50
    • London playscheme £8.40

(iv) Usage

  • In 1998–99 the number of parents using these facilities were as follows:
    • Sheffield nursery: 81 parents;
    • Runcorn nursery: 45 parents;
    • Sheffield playscheme: 37 parents;
    • Runcorn playscheme: 24 parents;
    • Darlington playscheme: 48 parents;
    • London playscheme: 25 parents.