Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of parents who were previously unemployed who have entered (1) part-time, and (2) full-time, employment as a result of Government-funded childcare.

We have not made this specific assessment and to do so would be at disproportionate cost.

There is relevant information in our published statistics which show in November 2025, 26% of households on Universal Credit (UC) with pre-school children and in which all claimants had earnings received the childcare element.

We are undertaking a number of activities to address this key barrier to work. This includes provision of the Governments UC childcare offer. This helps to address a key barrier to work by providing financial help with childcare to make it easier for low-income families to choose to work, stay in work and progress in work.

Eligible UC customers can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month regardless of the number of hours they work. This is up to a maximum amount of £1071.09 a month for a single child and £1836.16 a month for families with two or more children.

Additionally, through the Child Poverty Strategy, we are improving access to childcare. This includes our commitment to create more places in schools-based nurseries, £600 million to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme and free breakfast clubs in every primary school.

Alongside this, the Department for Education will lead a cross-government review of early education and childcare support to design and deliver a simpler system that maximises benefits for child development and parental ability to work or work more hours.