Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of families eligible to receive Tax Free Childcare that do not have access to the internet.

HMRC estimate that less than 1% of families eligible to receive Tax-Free Childcare will not be able to use online services or access the internet. These parents are able to apply by telephone by contacting the helpline on 0300 1234097. To date around 500 parents have used this facility to access Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare.

The estimated cost to the Exchequer for Employer National Insurance forgone, in relation to Employer Supported Childcare schemes, is £220 million per year.

The estimated annual operating costs for the childcare service, through which parents apply for both Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare, are £35.6million for 2018/19 and £47.5million for 2019/20.