Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Tony Baldry Excerpts
Monday 21st July 2014

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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May I thank my right hon. Friend very much for her warm welcome? She is absolutely right to say that child care, which can be challenging at all times, can be particularly challenging during the holidays and especially when the six-week holiday period stretches out in front of families. The Government’s tax-free child care policy will extend to children up to the age of 12—it will extend up to the age of 17 for disabled children. That is why it is so very welcome and progress must be made on it—I know that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor is doing that.

Tony Baldry Portrait Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
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May I reinforce the comments of the hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth)? The whole House will consider my right hon. Friend’s promotion very well deserved.

On child care, am I correct in thinking that the Government will cover 85% of the child care costs of about 300,000 families receiving universal credit and are seeking to ensure that work always pays?

Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I thank my right hon. Friend for his warm words. He is absolutely right to say that under the universal credit that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is introducing, families will be able to receive 85% support with their child care costs, up from 70% under the current working tax credit system?