Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Sturdy Excerpts

Monday 7th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

2. What progress the Government have made on implementing provision of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

[Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con)]

4. What progress the Government have made on implementing provision of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

16. What progress the Government have made on implementing provision of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Gyimah]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Families in deprived parts of Redditch will see £5,000 a year as a result of the 30 hours of free childcare. If they need further support, they can get it through the child tax credit system. The 30 hours of free childcare will help families with the cost of living, enable them to work more hours and give children the best start in life.

[Julian Sturdy]

I very much welcome the fact that one of the pilot schemes is in York. I congratulate the Minister on all his work on that. As the Minister knows, there is some concern among nursery providers over the future funding levels, driven by the disparity between the amount local authorities pay. Will the Minister consider future ring-fencing to avoid top-slicing by local authorities? Will he also consider visiting nurseries in my constituency to see how the pilot is working?

[Mr Gyimah]

I should like to reassure my hon. Friend that later this year we will be consulting on an early years national funding formula. As part of that, we will set a firm expectation on local authority top-slicing to ensure that the record investment being made in childcare is allocated fairly and reaches providers on the frontline. I am particularly impressed by the innovation in childcare brought about by the local authority in York, which is why we chose it as one of our early implementers. I would be delighted to visit again.