The Chancellor has regular discussions with his Cabinet colleagues on a range of topics.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government is committed to helping parents into work, and recognises that childcare costs can affect their decisions to take up work or increase their hours. That is why we are spending almost £6 billion in 2019-20 on childcare.<\/p>
<\/p>
Universal Credit claimants are able to claim up to 85% of their childcare costs, compared to 70% under the legacy benefit system. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job, and is worth up to £13,000 a year for a family with two children. Where claimants face difficulty in paying their costs upfront, Jobcentres will use the Flexible Support Fund, which is a non-repayable award. Budgeting advances are also available for those already in work.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-08T09:17:59.543Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential merits of the Government providing upfront financial support for childcare to parents claiming universal credit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1436", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Farrelly"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle-under-Lyme"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Farrelly"} ], "uin" : "272776"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132072", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1132072/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
All providers on the Early Years Register in England must comply with the safeguarding and welfare requirements set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Providers must ensure that their premises are fit for purpose and comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation.<\/p>
Ofsted refer to the EYFS statutory framework when carrying out inspections and may issue a welfare requirement notice in respect of any failure to meet a requirement in the document. It is an offence if a provider fails to comply with a welfare requirement notice.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-21T10:58:02.983Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the risks and effects of carbon monoxide poisoning among childcare providers on the Early Years Register; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4122", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "264391"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131212", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131212/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This is a matter for Her Majesty\u2019s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for Manchester Central and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T13:52:09.35Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of private voluntary and independent childcare settings in each local authority area.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4263", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Powell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Manchester Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lucy Powell"} ], "uin" : "263154"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131468", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1131468/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is committed to making childcare more affordable and more accessible. We plan to spend around £3.5 billion on our early education entitlements this year alone \u2013 more than any previous government. All 3 and 4-year-olds and the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds can access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, this government doubled the childcare entitlement for eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to 30 hours a week. Tax-Free Childcare provides additional financial help from government to help with any additional costs, worth up to £2,000 per child per year for children under 12 (or up to £4,000 per year for disabled children under 17). Those parents in receipt of Universal Credit can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs. The Childcare Choices website supports families\u2019 understanding of what might be available to them. This can be found at: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk<\/a>. The government has no plans to extend the package of free childcare to children from birth.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-21T13:41:17.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the provision of free childcare for children from when they are born.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4554", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness McGregor-Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness McGregor-Smith"}
], "uin" : "HL16262"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129619", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129619/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Details of the number of families with a Tax-Free Childcare account are published quarterly by HMRC. The latest publication is available at the following address: <\/p> In March 2019 there were 125,000 families with a used Tax-Free Childcare account.<\/p> <\/p> Table 3 shows the numbers of open and used accounts for families with a self-employed parent. The proportion of families with a used account that have a self-employed parent in March 2019, was 19,000/125,000 or 15%.<\/p> <\/p> In March 2019, there were 900 disabled children in receipt of Tax-Free Childcare.<\/p> <\/p> The information published in these statistics comprises all months since the policy was launched in April 2017 to March 2019. A further update, including the months April to June 2019, will be published in August.<\/p> <\/p> Since Tax-Free Childcare was launched in April 2017 and up to May 2019, 8,500 accounts have been closed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "259996"}
, {"_value" : "259997"}
, {"_value" : "259998"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-10T07:49:32.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have (a) a tax-free childcare account and (b) have made a payment through their tax-free childcare account.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
], "uin" : "259994"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129620", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129620/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " More than half a million parents have successfully opened a childcare account, and the vast majority of parents use the childcare service without issues. Since Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) was fully rolled out in February 2018, the rate of new complaints received by HMRC in relation to the childcare service has decreased substantially, while the number of users of TFC has more than trebled.<\/p> <\/p> However, it is not possible to break down complaints received about the childcare service between TFC and 30 hours free childcare complaints, as many parents receive both TFC and 30 hours free childcare.<\/p> <\/p> I refer the honorable member to my answer on 28 November 2018 (193504) https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-20/193504/<\/a>, which sets out that to 31 October 2018, HMRC received 4,560 complaints from parents who experienced technical issues with the childcare service.<\/p> <\/p> From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 943 new complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare (known as Tier 1). This includes complaints due to technical issues and customer service issues.<\/p> <\/p> From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 205 complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare where a customer was dissatisfied with our decision on their initial complaint and they have asked us to look at their concerns again (known as Tier 2).<\/p> <\/p> As set out in HMRC\u2019s monthly reports available for the 2018-19 period at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2018-to-2019<\/a>, complaints are not always logged on HMRC\u2019s live system during the month they are received and the numbers can, therefore, be revised upwards for subsequent monthly reports. The current month will be subject to greatest revision. The information to 31 May is therefore not yet available to a robust enough standard.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-11T14:06:35.75Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints relating to the tax-free childcare scheme have been received by HMRC as of 31 May 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
], "uin" : "259995"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129621", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129621/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Details of the number of families with a Tax-Free Childcare account are published quarterly by HMRC. The latest publication is available at the following address: <\/p> In March 2019 there were 125,000 families with a used Tax-Free Childcare account.<\/p> <\/p> Table 3 shows the numbers of open and used accounts for families with a self-employed parent. The proportion of families with a used account that have a self-employed parent in March 2019, was 19,000/125,000 or 15%.<\/p> <\/p> In March 2019, there were 900 disabled children in receipt of Tax-Free Childcare.<\/p> <\/p> The information published in these statistics comprises all months since the policy was launched in April 2017 to March 2019. A further update, including the months April to June 2019, will be published in August.<\/p> <\/p> Since Tax-Free Childcare was launched in April 2017 and up to May 2019, 8,500 accounts have been closed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "259994"}
, {"_value" : "259997"}
, {"_value" : "259998"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-10T07:49:33.7Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents have opened and subsequently closed a tax-free childcare account since 21 April 2017.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
], "uin" : "259996"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129622", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129622/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-free-childcare-statistics-march-2019<\/a>
In March 2019 there were 313,000 families with an open Tax-Free Childcare account.<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-free-childcare-statistics-march-2019<\/a>
In March 2019 there were 313,000 families with an open Tax-Free Childcare account.<\/p>