§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have been affected by the new rules requiring accreditation by Sure Start because their childminder looks after children in the children's home. [156392]
§ Margaret HodgeI should clarify the situation regarding the Home Childcarers Scheme to which this question refers. The scheme was launched in April 2003 to extend eligibility to tax credits to families using childcare in their own homes. It does not impose a new accreditation requirement on home based carers—seeking approval is entirely voluntary. Prior to the introduction of this scheme if a family needed to use childcare in their own home it was not possible to have this approved, or to access the childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit.
Currently there are 124 Home Childcarers who have been approved, by Ofsted, to care for children in the children's home. Home Childcarers can be employed by more than one family so the number of families using a Home Childcarer is unknown.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents have lost their entitlement to the childcare element of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit because they did not possess accreditation by Sure Start of the childminder operating in the parents' home. [156393]
§ Margaret HodgeNo parents have lost their entitlement to tax credits under this scheme. The purpose of the Home Childcarer Scheme is to extend the availability of tax credits rather than to restrict it.
Prior to the Home Childcarers Scheme parents using childcare in the child's home were not eligible to claim the childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit (now replaced by the Working Tax Credit). The introduction of this scheme has enabled some parents to claim tax credits when before they were unable to do so.
This Government are committed to extending the Home Childcarers Scheme to carers other than registered childminders and to enable more parents to benefit from the help available through tax credits. We are committed to holding a consultation on the options for an extension in spring 2004.
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§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has held with Her Majesty's Treasury on debt problems faced by parents who have lost Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit because of the new Sure Start accreditation arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [156394]
§ Margaret HodgeAs the purpose of the Home Childcarer Scheme is to extend the, availability of tax credits rather than to restrict it no parents have faced debt problems as a result of its introduction.