Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Early Learning and Childcare: Funding

Wednesday 21 June 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Claire Hanna asked the Minister to discuss with the Chancellor to ensure Northern Ireland receives similar funding for early learning and childcare as announced for England in the spring Budget of 2023.
  • The Chancellor has stated that Northern Ireland will receive Barnett consequentials for 2023-24 and 2024-25 due to increased UK Government spending on childcare policy reform in England.
  • The Government recognises the importance of childcare and works with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, noting that 91% of three-year-olds were in funded pre-school education in the 2022-23 academic year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Education Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

In the spring Budget of 2023, increased funding was announced for early learning and childcare in England. Claire Hanna asks if similar levels of funding will be provided to Northern Ireland.

Question

If he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring similar levels of funding for Northern Ireland to that announced for early learning and childcare in the spring Budget of 2023.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

In his spring Budget, the Chancellor stated that Northern Ireland would receive Barnett consequentials for 2023-24 and 2024-25 as a result of increased UK Government spending on childcare policy reform in England.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific commitment to have discussions with the Chancellor was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Northern Ireland Children & Families
Context

There is no childcare strategy in Northern Ireland, placing many families under extreme financial pressure due to growing costs. Research by Melted Parents highlights the failure of families in Northern Ireland on this issue.

Question

The Secretary of State may be aware that there is no childcare strategy in Northern Ireland and very little support, which is placing many families under extreme financial pressure because of growing costs, exacerbating inequality among children and forcing many, particularly women, to abandon their career for years. Research by the advocacy group Melted Parents demonstrates that families in Northern Ireland have been consistently failed on this issue. Does the Secretary of State agree that childcare must be recognised as a core part of the economic and societal fabric, as well as a tool to give kids a great start in life? Will he support the Department of Education and others to ensure that families in Northern Ireland can finally access the benefits promised in the Budget, promised in New Decade, New Approach and promised before that as well?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The Government recognised in the Budget how important childcare is, and we do work with the Department of Education. According to its figures, there were 22,715 pupils in funded pre-school education in Northern Ireland in the 2022-23 academic year, which is 91% of three-year-olds in the population.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific commitment to support the Department of Education was not addressed directly.

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