Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Childcare Availability

Monday 4 November 2024 · 6 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister of State committed to repurposing empty classrooms to create or expand school-based nurseries.
  • Government will provide 8.1 billion for early years entitlements in 2025-26, a 30% increase from the previous year.
  • Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business and Trade are examining parental leave entitlements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James MacCleary Lib Dem Lewes
Children & Families
Context

The MP raised concerns about the need for more early years places and outdated business rates affecting nurseries.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase the availability of high-quality childcare. With Government data showing that 70,000 more early years places need to be created by next year, will the Secretary of State commit to removing unfair business rates from nurseries and pre-schools?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are determined to deliver a sea change in early years education. We will repurpose empty classrooms to create or expand school-based nurseries, making childcare more accessible and affordable. We intend to reform the early years sector overall and look closely at this into next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to removing unfair business rates from nurseries and pre-schools

How: Looking Closely At This Into Next Year

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Q2 James MacCleary Lib Dem Lewes
Children & Families
Context

The MP welcomed the Government's £1.8 billion commitment to expanding publicly funded childcare and inquired about interim support during the transition.

Question

As a mother in the north-west, I thank the Secretary of State and welcome the Government's £1.8 billion commitment to expanding publicly funded childcare. Can she share any plans for interim support to keep childcare affordable for working families relying on private providers?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We will look closely at all considerations as part of our early years strategy review. We will take account of workforce recruitment, quality of provision and other factors for the sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete plans for interim support during transition

How: Looking Closely At This Into Next Year

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Q3 Kirith Entwistle Lab Bolton North East
Economy Children & Families
Context

The MP welcomed her position as constructive Opposition and inquired about the Government's early years funding rates.

Question

May I say how delighted I am to be in the role? In that spirit, I ask the Secretary of State to confirm that the Government's early years funding rates for all age groups will increase. Will she give us a figure for how much that will cost the Department for Education?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We will set out more detail on funding rates in due course. The Conservative party left behind commitments without a plan to make them real, leaving us with a £22 billion hole in public finances.

Not addressed: Providing a figure for the cost of increasing early years funding rates

How: Left Behind Commitments Without A Plan, £22 Billion Hole

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Q4 Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks
Economy Children & Families
Context

The MP raised concerns about the impact of last week's national insurance rise on private and voluntary providers in the early years sector.

Question

Two thirds of early years places are delivered by private and voluntary providers. What assessment has the Department for Education made of the impact of last week's national insurance rise? How much more do parents have to pay in nursery fees?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We expect to provide £8.1 billion for early years entitlements in 2025-26, an increase of about 30% from the previous year. We are looking at what the changes mean for providers and will have more to say shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific figures on additional costs for parents

How: Will Have More To Say Shortly

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Q5 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Employment Children & Families
Context

The MP expressed concern about statutory maternity pay and inquired about the Secretary's discussions on boosting support for parents who want to spend more time at home.

Question

Alongside formal childcare, many parents want the option of spending more time at home. Does she agree that statutory maternity pay is far from excessive? What discussions has she had with ministerial colleagues about supporting parents?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade are looking carefully at parental leave entitlements. We share concern about comments from the Conservative party leader regarding maternity pay.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete plans or figures related to boosting support for parents

How: Looking Carefully At Parental Leave

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Q6 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP welcomed her position as constructive Opposition and asked about the Government's early years funding rates.

Question

May I say how delighted I am to be in the role? In that spirit, I ask the Secretary of State to confirm that the Government's early years funding rates for all age groups will increase. Will she give us a figure for how much that will cost the Department for Education?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are determined to deliver a sea change in early years education. The Conservative party left behind commitments without a plan, leaving us with tough decisions on public finances.

Not addressed: Providing figures for the cost of increasing funding rates

How: Tough Decisions On Public Finances

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