Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vicky Ford and Baroness Keeley

Tuesday 5th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab)]

What assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the coronavirus job retention scheme on the ability of nurseries and childcare providers to retain staff.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Vicky Ford) [V]]

We have two key priorities at this time: making sure that there is sufficient childcare for critical workers and vulnerable children; and ensuring the longer-term sustainability of the vital early years sector. Therefore, the Government will continue paying local authorities for the hours that we normally fund, and, where appropriate, providers can also access business rates relief, grants, a business interruption loan and the self-employment support scheme, which is especially helpful for childminders. In order to retain staff, providers can also furlough up to the proportion of their salary bill that would normally be considered as being paid from non-public funding sources.