Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Stewart Excerpts
Monday 25th June 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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Thirty hours is a success story. The summer numbers are 340,000 children aged three and four benefiting from 30 hours a week free childcare. For those parents taking advantage of that, that is a £5,000 saving a year. We are conducting a review to look at the economics of the model, as we have done in the past, when we raised the hourly rate from £4.65 to £5. It is a huge success story, and clearly the hon. Gentleman is running scared.

Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)
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May I ask the Minister to explain how the Government intend to increase free childcare for foster carers, which is a great idea?

Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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My hon. Friend is right. We have listened carefully, including to many views in this Chamber, and we have delivered. As of September, foster carers who qualify for the 30 hours a week free childcare for three and four-year-olds can take advantage of it.