Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March to Question 133822 on Childcare Vouchers, if he will facilitate parliamentary scrutiny of the relevant day regulations required to close the childcare vouchers scheme to new entrants in October 2018.

Colleagues were given the opportunity to voice their concerns about the closure of childcare vouchers to new entrants during the SI debate on the 13^th March. To reflect concerns raised about the timing of the closure and the transition to Tax-Free Childcare, the government announced that childcare vouchers would remain open for a further six months.

It is for both Parliament and the Business Managers, in conjunction with the usual channels, to decide what future business is debated in the House.

Today the government has made the relevant day order which sets 4^th October 2018 as the date when childcare vouchers and directly contracted childcare will close to new entrants. This will allow more time for Tax-Free Childcare to bed in, for awareness to increase and for families to understand the support they can receive under the scheme.

Now that Tax-Free Childcare is fully rolled out, the government will keep it under review to ensure it is delivering the support needed for working families.