Written Question
Thursday 15th October 2020
Asked by:
Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister's recent announcement of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, whether he plans to extend the 30-hour childcare policy to single parents who have pre-school-aged children and are on universal credit and in training.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Childcare policy is a devolved matter and, as such, the free early education entitlements funded by the Department for Education are available only in England.
The aim of the 30 hours free childcare entitlement is to help eligible working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds in England with the cost of childcare and to enable them to work. In order to be eligible for this, parents must earn the equivalent of working at least 16 hours a week at National Minimum or Living Wage, or be in receipt of an eligible income-replacement benefit, such as the Employment and Support Allowance. Students that work in addition to their studies and meet these requirements are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare a week. Students that do not work and are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit are not eligible. There are no current plans to change this policy.
Students in England are, however, eligible for other forms of childcare support. All 3- and 4-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week, regardless of whether or not their parents are working. Two year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are also eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week.
Other assistance with childcare costs for students in England include the childcare grant for parents in higher education undertaking a full-time undergraduate course. The amount payable is based on 85% of actual childcare costs up to a maximum of £174.22 a week for one child or £298.69 a week for students with 2 or more children.
The government also offers a Parents’ Learning Allowance for full-time undergraduate students with one or more dependent children. For the 2020-21 academic year students could receive up to £1,766 a year depending on household income.
For those in further education, Care to Learn provides childcare support and related travel costs to young parents aged under 20, so they can undertake education or training.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 18 Mar 2020
Educational Settings
"I thank the Education Secretary for advance sight of his statement. I declare an interest in that my wife is a primary school teacher in Scotland, albeit on maternity leave. I wish to put on record our thanks to all staff in the education sector for all they have done …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Educational Settings
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Sep 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"This summer has seen a record number of young people in Scotland gain a place at a Scottish university, including a 5% increase in young people from the most deprived communities. Scottish students are not being dissuaded by the tens of thousands of pounds-worth of debt facing students elsewhere in …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Sep 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"Thanks to the lack of capped places, experts have warned that some universities in England are at risk of going under, with many universities facing major losses, particularly over the past five years. Given that that is a result of this Government’s policy of encouraging competition, has the right hon. …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 04 Dec 2017
Social Mobility Commission
"The board members have clearly become exasperated by the UK Government’s failure to acknowledge and act on their work on lifting people out of poverty. Does the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report today not highlight and emphasise that?..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Social Mobility Commission
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 18 Jul 2017
Free Childcare
"I congratulate the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran) on securing this urgent question, and given that this is largely a devolved matter, I will be brief.
Ensuring affordable, flexible and secure childcare is one of the best ways to narrow the gender pay gap, by helping …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Free Childcare
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Jul 2017
Social Mobility
"I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place as a newly elected Member. He is talking about the figures for Scotland, but does he recognise that, under the Scottish Government, more children are progressing from school to positive destinations than ever before? [Interruption.]..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Social Mobility
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Jul 2017
Social Mobility
"It is a pleasure to take part in the debate with you in the Chair, Mr Pritchard. I congratulate the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) on securing the debate, and on her thorough speech. She had ample support from this well-populated Chamber.
I want to mention a couple …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Social Mobility
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Jul 2017
Social Mobility
"I made the point, which was supported by the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) from his experience of teaching and of previous initiatives, that we will see proper social mobility only if we understand and tackle the reasons why children arrive at school impoverished. Does the Minister agree that …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Social Mobility
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 15 Mar 2017
Visible Religious Symbols: European Court Ruling
"This is an incredibly sensitive issue which will cause concern across these isles. It is clear that right-wing leaders across Europe have already attempted to misrepresent the ruling for their own ends, so I hope that we will see clear leadership from the UK Government to counter that rhetoric and …..."Neil Gray - View Speech
View all Neil Gray (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) contributions to the debate on: Visible Religious Symbols: European Court Ruling