Written question asked by Baroness Laing of Elderslie (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 November 2002. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when he will publish the report on the review of childcare by the Performance and Innovation Unit.

Answer: Mrs. Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish the report on the review of childcare by the Performance and Innovation Unit. [78594] Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to assist students in full-time education to fund child care. [78792] Margaret Hodge: Specific childcare funding of £36 million is available through the Learner Support Funds (LSF) to all post 16 Further Education Institutions (FEIs). Students in colleges can access funding of up to £4000 for each child for each year of study. Students in school and college 6th forms have access to the same level of funding through a pilot scheme which is aimed at lone parents. FEIs also have the further flexibility to use their general LSF to top up childcare funding and to meet other additional costs, such as transport to childminders. A childcare grant was introduced in September 2001 to help full-time higher education student parents with childcare costs. The childcare grant covers the whole year, paying 85 per cent. of actual childcare costs for 40 weeks during term times and short vacations and 70 per cent. of actual costs for 12 weeks during the student's long vacation. In the academic year 2002-03, a student parent with one child may receive a childcare grant of up to £5,724 (with two or more children up to £8,480). This may be supplemented by other dependants grants and discretionary support.

Secondary information