HC Deb 09 February 2000 vol 344 cc180-1W
Ms Christine Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what child care 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 child care; and how many parents used the facilities. [109189]

Mr. Hain

The Department's site at Hanslope Park has an on-site nursery and creche facility used by 22 parents in 1998–99. The Department also had access to 16 places at a central London nursery, all of which are subsidised. It participated in the Whitehall holiday playscheme to a total of 240 days. The cost to parents of child care provision varied according to the site, the age of the child and the particular scheme. Allowances for UK-based staff overseas include provision of 390 hours of child care a year for staff with children accompanying them. The value of the provision varies according to the Post. Representational allowances cover the cost of child care overseas incurred as a result of official representational duties. The Wilton Park Executive Agency has no child care facilities.

Ms Christine Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions are made available to (i) departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department, for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) child care allowances, (m) careers leave and (n) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [109190]

Mr. Hain

I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly with the details she has requested