Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Nursery Closures And Childcare Crisis In The South West

06 February 2024 · 0 other contributors · 2,826 words

Opened by Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Responding minister: Not recorded

EconomyHousingChildren & Families

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Luke Pollard raised concerns about nursery closures and childcare crisis in the south west in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Nursery providers in the south-west face financial challenges including rising bills and staff shortages.
  • Luke Pollard cited 886 nursery closures in the south-west over the past year.
  • Pollard urges the government to act urgently to improve childcare provision in the region.

Key requests to Government

Pollard urges the Government to act urgently before more nurseries close and children lose their places. He requests more action from the Department to improve childcare provision in the south-west and address the structural issues facing nursery providers.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Nursery providers in the south-west are facing a perfect storm of rising bills, inadequate free childcare funding, staff shortages, and unaffordable costs for families. Luke Pollard cited statistics showing that nurseries across the United Kingdom are struggling to stay financially viable with closures numbering 886 in the south-west alone over the past year. Parents like Shelly can only afford part-time care due to high costs, leading to work-hour reductions and financial strain.

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