Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving childcare provision in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Fleur Anderson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
This Labour government’s mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, at every stage across the UK.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Early Education and I met with NI Education Minister Givan in Belfast to discuss childcare and areas of shared learning between the two governments.
The NI Education Minister recently announced £55m for measures which will include an extension of the Childcare Subsidy Scheme to cover school-age children in Northern Ireland, which I welcome.