Children: Childcare Costs

Lord Martin of Springburn Excerpts

Thursday 31st January 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Newby]

My Lords, I think the question that we have to look at in terms of the number of children is why it is that those countries that, by common consent, have the best childcare provision in the world have higher ratios of children. The answer is partly that we need to have a combination of things of which better training is one. The pay is very low, but the Government will fund the additional free support which I mentioned earlier at a higher average rate of pay than is currently paid across the sector.

[Lord Martin of Springburn]

My Lords, not so long ago—and it might still be the case—employees in the House of Commons who had children in nursery care were given tax-free vouchers by the House. Will the Minister and his department look at extending this scheme to the wider population?

[Lord Newby]

Yes, my Lords. Vouchers are one of the possible ways of dealing with this, and they are one of the options being considered.