§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government 91W have to change legislation to enable local authorities to charge recipients of Working Families Tax Credit for the child care they provide. [118893]
§ Ms HodgeLocal authorities are currently unable to pass on any of the costs of the child care they provide to parents who receive Working Families Tax Credit or Disabled Person's Tax Credit. Some of these families have sufficient incomes but nevertheless have their child care provided free of charge. We will be introducing an amendment to the Local Government Bill which will allow local authorities to charge for the child care they provide, but will still require them to exempt parents of children in need.