§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [1088341
§ Mr. MorleyDepartmental and agency staff had access to 130 nursery places at six sites during 1998–99 and the subsidised cost to parents was £56 to £85 per week depending upon location. Due to shared use of some places by part-time staff, at some sites the number of users was higher than the number of places available.
During the same period, holiday playscheme places were available to departmental and agency staff working at 10 sites and the subsidised cost to parents was £3.50 to £9 per day depending upon location. The number of users varied at each site and for each school holiday period.
It is not possible to give separate figures for departmental and agency staff: facilities are used by both, and uptake fluctuates.