Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what childcare facilities his Department makes available for staff; how much his Department spent (a) overall and (b) per child on those childcare facilities in the last year; and how many staff members use those childcare facilities.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has on-site nursery facilities in King Charles Street, London, and Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes. King Charles Street can accommodate up to 44 children and Hanslope Park up to 55. 84 staff members currently use these facilities.

At both facilities, parents pay the majority of the costs but there is also a Departmental contribution for the provision of facilities. In Financial Year 2016/17 costs to the Department were:

King Charles St - £97,836, with average cost per child of £2,082

Hanslope Park - £45,690, with average cost per child of £831.

The FCO offers childcare vouchers to staff as part of a salary sacrifice arrangement. These vouchers can be used to pay for care at any Ofsted registered nursery or childminder. There is no net cost to the FCO in offering childcare vouchers.

The FCO also supports staff by making a contribution towards the cost of places at the Westminster Holiday Playscheme. The cost of this in 2016-17 was £9,688. We do not hold data on the number of children/parents who use this facility.