Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Daniel Zeichner Excerpts
Monday 11th September 2017

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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Certainly, 216,384 parents have secured a code. Of those, as I have said, 71% have already found a place, and no doubt more are finding additional places this week.

Daniel Zeichner Portrait Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)
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16. Back in 2015, David Cameron promised that the 30 hours would, in his words, be “completely free”. Every nursery I speak to in Cambridge tells me that it is having to cross-subsidise and often charge for extras, including lunch. Will the Minister tell us in what sense that is completely free?

Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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May I make it clear yet again that the 30 hours entitlement is free? Additional hours, lunch and other add-ons can be charged for, but they must not be a prerequisite for taking up the 30 hours.