Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the expected time taken will be for people to register for tax free childcare as a result of being required to send their children's birth certificate to HM Revenue and Customs.

Registering for Tax-Free Childcare will be straightforward for parents. Using a simple online system, parents will be asked to identify themselves and the child for whom the childcare account is being opened. In most cases, this information will be processed and checked automatically.

In a minority of cases, HMRC may need to check the child’s birth certificate. This process will be as efficient as possible to minimise any delay in the parent opening a childcare account.