Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his policy is on funding childcare infrastructure in the (a) short and (b) long term.

The government continues to support families with their childcare costs. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced on 25 November an extra £44 million in the 2021-22 financial year for local authorities in England to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers for the government’s free childcare entitlement offers. This is an above inflation average hourly funding rate uplift for 3-4 year-olds and 2 year-olds, compared to the 2020-21 financial year. Further information on how this will be distributed will be made available as soon as possible.

Funding beyond the 2021-22 financial year will be considered in the round at future Spending Reviews.

Education in Wales is a matter for the devolved administration.