Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133825 on Child Care Vouchers: Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the cost of additional childcare support in Northern Ireland; and whether he plans to allocate additional funding for that support.

Early education is a devolved matter for a restored Northern Ireland Executive. We have made no assessment of the cost of providing additional childcare in Northern Ireland.

We have delivered successful childcare policies for working parents in England, and are willing to engage and provide advice to the Northern Ireland parties and the Northern Ireland Civil Service based on our experience of developing and administering these policies in England.