Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of 13 March 2018, Official Report, column 767, what the specific circumstances affecting public sector employees in relation to childcare vouchers are; and what steps he is planning to take to address them.

We are replacing childcare vouchers with Tax-Free Childcare, which will provide support to nearly 1 million more families than currently use childcare vouchers. Childcare vouchers will remain open to new entrants for a further 6 months, and close to new entrants in October.

Tax-Free Childcare is now fully rolled out, and we will keep it under review to ensure it’s delivering the support needed for working families.

We are also listening to colleagues in Northern Ireland, regarding the circumstances of public sector employers, and have committed to ongoing engagement with them to look at these issues as tax-free childcare continues to roll out to replace employer-supported childcare.