§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will broaden the criteria for the registration of child minders to enable nightworkers and lone parents working unsocial hours to benefit from the Working Families Tax Credit. [147422]
§ Ms HodgeAll working parents, subject to their income, are eligible to receive Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The Childcare Tax Credit (CTC) element of WFTC can meet up to 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs.
WFTC helps with the cost of overnight care where it is done by a child care provider who is registered under the Children Act. But we recognise that some parents, with certain working hours or particular needs, have little option except to employ child care providers who fall outside the eligible arrangements. We are looking at the scope to extend access to the CTC for these groups and what quality assurance arrangements would be appropriate.