§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the crèche facilities she makes available to the children of her Department's staff. [121116]
§ Ms HewittThe information is as follows:
Nursery Places
DTI staff in Central London have access to six nursery places. The weekly cost to the Department for a full-time place for an under 2-year-old is £209.50 and £178.00 for 2-years-old and over. Staff contribution is levied at a flat rate of £112 per week for a full-time place irrespective of the age of the child. Children attending nursery on a part-time basis are charged pro rata. There are currently eight children using the six places.
Holiday Playscheme
DTI staff in Central London have access to a 32 place holiday play-scheme for a minimum of 54 days each year. Staff contribute £14.00 per place towards the £31.00 daily fee. DTI HQ staff in Cardiff have access to a local Easter and Summer holiday playscheme for a contribution of £12.00 per place towards the £24.00 daily fee.
DTI's total expenditure on all child care costs for 2002–03 financial year was £58,525.
DTI's child care provision is set within the wider context of an ambitious programme to support flexible working at all grades. In a DTI child care survey parents and carers indicated that flexible working is the provision they value most highly, to help them balance their work and home-life. DTI is also participating in the Interdepartmental Group on Childcare.