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1491428

registered interest
date	21/07/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long on average people who are claiming Universal Credit are having to wait to be reimbursed for childcare costs as of 21 July 2022.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	42019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Where childcare is delivered during an assessment period, the cost paid for that childcare will be reimbursed at the end of the assessment period in which it is delivered. In order to be reimbursed, childcare costs can be reported to DWP up to the end of the assessment period following the assessment period in which they were paid.</p><p> </p><p>The exact waiting time for reimbursement, therefore, depends on how far in advance a claimant pays their childcare provider and how soon the claimant reports those costs to DWP.</p><p /><p>UC claimants who need help with upfront childcare costs to enter employment or significantly increase their working hours can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund (FSF). This is non-repayable and will pay their initial childcare costs directly to the provider up to the first salary received.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 05/09/2022 15:57:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1491529

registered interest
date	21/07/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the Government has made of the number of women in England who are unable to take on more paid work as a result of the cost of childcare.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	42031
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is aware that for some UC claimants' childcare costs presents challenges to entering employment. To support parents to become financially resilient by moving into work and progressing in work, eligible UC claimants can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month regardless of the number of hours they work, compared to 70% in Tax Credits. This is up to the maximum amount of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children. For families with two children, this could be worth over £13,000 a year.</p><p> </p><p>This support is available to all lone parents and couples, regardless of the number of hours they work. For couples, both parents need to be in paid work to be eligible unless one of the allowable exceptions is met.</p><p> </p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer in England and there are similar funded early learning offers in devolved nations. The Free Childcare offer provides 15 hours a week of free childcare in England for all 3- and 4-year old's and disadvantaged 2-year old's, doubling for working parents of 3 and 4 year old's to 30 hours a week.</p><p>The UC childcare element can be used to top up a claimant's eligible free childcare hours if more hours are worked and childcare required. This offer means that for some claimants' childcare costs should not present any barriers to entering work.</p><p>UC claimants who need help with upfront childcare costs to enter employment or significantly increase their working hours can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund (FSF). This is non-repayable and will pay their initial childcare costs directly to the provider up to the first salary received.</p><p> </p><p>Through a staged rollout from April 2022 onwards, 2.1m low paid Universal Credit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into higher paid work. This will be provided by work coaches and focus on career progression advice, such as considering skills gaps, identifying training opportunities, or looking for opportunities for the claimant to progress in their current role or in a new role. Jobcentres will be supported in this new role by a network of 37 Progression Champions across Great Britain who will spearhead the scheme. They will work with partners to address local barriers that limit progression, such as transport and childcare.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 05/09/2022 15:44:48 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1483671

registered interest
date	27/06/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the maximum amount claimable for childcare costs under Universal Credit compared with regional increases in the cost of childcare.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	25944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2022 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, working families can claim up to 85%, increased from 70% in legacy benefits, of their eligible registered childcare costs each month regardless of the hours worked. This equates to a maximum support of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>The current childcare offer is comprehensive, broad ranging and reflects different family circumstances, covering children over a range of ages. We believe that helping parents with their childcare costs is one of the best ways to help people into work, support families with the cost of living, and ensure every child has the opportunity of a high-quality early education.</p><p> </p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes 15 hours per week free childcare for disadvantaged 2-year-olds and 3-&amp;4-year-olds. This doubles to 30 hours per week free childcare for working parents of 3-&amp;4-year-olds. The UC childcare element can be used to top up a claimant’s eligible free childcare hours if more hours are worked and childcare required. This offer means that for some claimants’ childcare costs should not present any barriers to entering work.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 30/06/2022 15:35:16 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1466449

registered interest
date	26/05/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether support is available to people who are unable to access free childcare as a result of having started new employment after the term start date.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Dan Carden
uin	9991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2022 answer text <p>30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds is available to parents who expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum or living wage, and under £100,000 per year. Parents who meet this income criteria can take up a 30 hours free childcare place from the term following a successful application. This means parents can start using their 30 hours entitlement from the 1 April, 1 September or 1 January following their application.</p><p>Parents who have secured new employment after the term start date can apply to start a 30 hours place the following term. In the meanwhile, there is other support available. Parents will be eligible for the universal 15 hours free early education entitlement for all three and four-year-olds.</p><p>Alongside the universal 15 hours free early education entitlement, parents who meet the eligibility criteria for Tax-Free Childcare can make further savings on their childcare. Tax-Free Childcare can help parents save on up to 20% of their childcare costs, worth up to £500 every 3 months for children aged 0-11, or up to £1,000 every 3 months for disabled children aged 0-16, and has the same income eligibility criteria as 30 hours free childcare. Parents can start using Tax-Free Childcare immediately following a successful application and do not need to wait until the following term.</p><p>Working parents with a lower income can receive support from the childcare element of Universal Credit. This can be used in addition to the 15 hours universal free early education entitlement. Through Universal Credit, parents can get help with up to 85% of their eligible childcare costs, reimbursed through their Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2022 15:19:49 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1460445

registered interest
date	26/04/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what data his Department holds on the number of councils providing business rates relief to childcare providers in England as of 26 April 2022.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	160543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2022 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 28/04/2022 10:49:19 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1457266

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the affordability of childcare for low income families.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	154518
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. Devolved administrations have their own specific offers. Information on funding can be found here: <a href="https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/applying-funded-pre-school-place-202223" target="_blank">https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/applying-funded-pre-school-place-202223</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The department recognises that the cost of childcare is a key concern for parents, which is why the government has made an unprecedented investment in childcare over the past decade, with over £3.5 billion spent in each of the past three years on our early education entitlements.</p><p> </p><p>We have also introduced Tax-Free Childcare, which is available for working parents of children aged 0-11 (or up to 16 if their child is disabled). This scheme can save parents up to £2,000 per year (or up to £4,000 for children with disabilities) from their childcare costs.</p><p> </p><p>Working parents on a low income, including those returning from maternity leave, may also be eligible for help with up to 85% of their childcare costs through the childcare element of Universal Credit. This is subject to a monthly limit of £646 for one child or £1108 for two or more children aged 0-16.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s range of childcare offers includes 15 hours free early education for all three and four year olds, regardless of parental income or working status. This helps children to develop social skills and prepare them for school, regardless of their background.</p><p> </p><p>Working parents of three and four-year-olds may also be eligible for an additional 15 hours of free childcare, known as 30 hours free childcare. To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, a lone parent must earn from just over £7,400 a year, and a couple, where both parents are working, from just over £14,800 per year, to access 30 hours.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 27/04/2022 11:14:33 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1456602

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) affordability of childcare and (b) impact of that matter on (i) household debt and (ii) rent arrears of families with children in Birmingham.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	151223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2022 answer text <p>The early years of a child’s life are the most crucial, which is why the department has invested more than £3.5 billion in each of the last three years to deliver free childcare offers, including the 30 hours per week for working parents, which is supporting thousands of families. We have introduced tax-free childcare and, through Universal Credit, parents can claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs, which is significantly more generous than the previous benefits system. The department is also investing millions in family hubs, where families can access important support services.</p><p>The most recent data, published by Ipsos Mori, on parental views of affordability of childcare is from between 9-13 July 2021, and is available to view here: <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/childcare-use-perceived-impact-child-development-and-information-working-home-families-0-4-year" target="_blank">https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/childcare-use-perceived-impact-child-development-and-information-working-home-families-0-4-year</a>. The data concludes that, among those who used formal childcare before COVID-19 and who are currently using (paid) formal childcare, for just over half (51%) the affordability of their weekly childcare costs is unchanged compared to before COVID-19. For 30%, their weekly childcare costs are easier to meet, and for 19% their weekly childcare costs are more difficult to meet. Among those who used formal childcare before COVID-19 and who are currently using formal childcare, for 46% their weekly childcare costs are unchanged compared to before COVID-19. For 29%, the costs have risen, and for 12% they have fallen.</p><p>In the Spending Review, the department announced that we are investing additional funding for the early years entitlements worth £160 million in the 2022/23 financial year, £180 million in 2023/24 and £170 million in 2024/25, compared to the 2021/22 financial year. Furthermore, we are investing £180 million of recovery support in the early years sector. We will build a stronger, more expert workforce, enabling early years providers to deliver high quality teaching and help address the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children, particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas.</p><p>The department will continue to look for ways to improve the cost, choice and availability of childcare. Alongside this, we have recently announced the biggest increase in the National Living Wage since its introduction from April 2022 to support working families more widely.</p><p>The department does not hold information on the interaction between cost of childcare and rental arrears in the Birmingham area, or on the interaction with household debt.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/04/2022 15:38:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1423242

registered interest
date	18/02/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of applications for thirty hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds that were found to have been wrongly denied in 2020 - 2021.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mick Whitley
uin	125503
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>In 2021 HMRC overturned 750 decisions that parents were not eligible for 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-old children of working parents on review or appeal, out of 815,000 customer journeys. This represents 0.1% of all eligibility decisions being overturned.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 23/02/2022 16:07:54 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4755 label Biography information for Mick Whitley

1423243

registered interest
date	18/02/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of time it takes for the appeals process to be completed when persons have had their applications for thirty hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds denied.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mick Whitley
uin	125504
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>The Childcare Service, which delivers eligibility checking for 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-old children of working parents, is designed to give quick decisions and quick access to reviews when parents disagree with decisions. Cases are routinely monitored. Only a tiny fraction of parents go on to appeal to an independent tribunal after the review process concludes, only 1% last year.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 23/02/2022 16:09:13 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4755 label Biography information for Mick Whitley

1423244

registered interest
date	18/02/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of service provided on the Childcare Service phonelines.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mick Whitley
uin	125505
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>The front line phonelines for the Childcare Service are provided by HMRC’s delivery partners NS&amp;I. HMRC liaise closely with NS&amp;I to ensure a consistently good service is provided to agreed service standards. HMRC work collaboratively to overcome any short term issues that may arise such as Covid-19 related temporary staff shortages.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 23/02/2022 16:22:55 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4755 label Biography information for Mick Whitley