Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Childcare Support: Working Parents

Monday 11 December 2023 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government expects to spend over 8 billion annually on free childcare and early education by 2027-28
  • Department for Business and Trade published response to consultation on flexible working to enable more flexible working options
  • Total number of paid early years staff has remained stable, with a 2% increase between 2021 and 2022

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Siobhan Baillie
Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the need to provide more support for working parents through childcare services.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase childcare support for working parents. By 2027-28, we expect to spend in excess of £8 billion every year on free childcare hours and early education, representing the single largest investment in childcare in England ever.

Answer from David Johnston

The Government announced earlier this year transformative reforms to childcare to benefit children, parents and the economy. By 2027-28, we expect to spend in excess of £8 billion every year on free childcare hours and early education, representing the single largest investment in childcare in England ever.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 James Sunderland
Employment Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the need to provide more incentives for parents, especially women, to return to work by combining improved childcare provisions with increased flexibility in work arrangements.

Question

In recent months, I have visited several early years providers across Bracknell Forest, where it is clear that the improved provision and ratios will make a big difference both for working families and for the providers. Could the Minister please outline what more could be done to better incentivise working parents to return to work?

Answer from David Johnston

Last week the Department for Business and Trade published its response to its consultation on flexible working, making clear that this Government are committed to changes to legislation that will enable more flexible working. Together with our expansion of childcare, that will ensure parents have more choice over how, when and where they work.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Siobhan Baillie
Children & Families
Context

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition has found that a significant number of nursery staff are considering leaving the early years sector in the next year. The question arises from the need to retain these skilled workers.

Question

Welcome back, Mr Speaker. The Early Education and Childcare Coalition has found that 57% of nursery staff and 38% of childminders are considering leaving the early years sector in the next 12 months. That absolutely cannot happen. What evidence does my hon. Friend have that the UK is retaining nursery staff and childminders, and what can we be doing to ensure the new system is successful?

Answer from David Johnston

I thank my hon. Friend for her work championing the early years workforce and join her in the tributes she pays to them. The total number of paid early years staff has remained stable in recent years, and between 2021 and 2022 the number of staff increased by 2%, or 5,900 people. We will publish updated statistics in the coming weeks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for evidence on retention rates but only received information on overall stability and a promise to provide future data.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Barry Sheerman Lab
Economy Employment Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the concern that high costs of preschool and out-of-school care are preventing many skilled individuals, especially women, from returning to work.

Question

Is it not a fact that after 13 years of the Conservatives in government, our country is in a situation where preschool and out-of-school care is the most expensive in Europe and beyond? We have so many talented people—especially women, but men as well—who are not coming back to use their high skills to recharge the economy, because they cannot afford childcare. What is the Minister going to do about it?

Answer from David Johnston

What we are doing is making the single largest investment ever made in childcare. That is going to save the average family up to £6,500 per year on the cost of childcare, in contrast to the hon. Gentleman's party, which has no policy for this area whatsoever.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email