§ Mrs. LaingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places have been created through the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative; how many of these offer subsidised child care; and at what level of subsidy these places are being offered over what period. [78592]
§ Maria EagleBy June 2002, 1,000 Neighbourhood nursery places had been created and an additional 38,000 places are currently under development. Providers can receive funding of up to £5,400 per place over three years to make places affordable to parents in disadvantaged areas, as providers move towards sustainability in the long term.
Parents who receive working families tax credit can also receive help towards child care through the child care tax credit.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of lone parents exclusively(a) use registered child care services and (b) rely on informal child care in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement. [78966]
§ Maria EagleThe latest survey carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of DfES shows that in England, 29 per cent. of all lone parents had used formal child care in the past year and 73 per cent. of all lone parents had used informal child care in the past year. There is no information on exclusive usage or use of registered child care services. The study "Repeat Study of Parents Demand for Childcare" was published by the DfES in May 2002. This data is unavailable at constituency level.