Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that service personnel are able to access wraparound childcare.

On 1 September 2022, the Ministry of Defence rolled out a Wraparound Childcare scheme (WAC) across the UK to provide greater flexibility to Service personnel with children, following a successful pilot program. From the start of the 2022 Autumn term, WAC funding will be available to all eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years, who are in school or being home schooled in the UK. If eligible, personnel can claim up to 20 hours per week of funding for each child that is attending before and after school care during term time. WAC is known as 'Out of School care' in Wales and 'School Aged Childcare' in Scotland.

Defence continues to work closely with the Department for Education, the Devolved Administrations and Local Authorities to ensure there are sufficient spaces and that where this might not be the case that this is highlighted appropriately.