Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual cost to the public purse has been of working tax credit childcare since that policy was introduced.

The government currently spends over £1 billion a year on childcare support through Working Tax Credit. The government is introducing Universal Credit, which will provide claimants with support for up to 85% of their eligible costs, up from the 70% support available in Working Tax Credit. As a consequence, the government expects to spend £300m a year more on childcare support for low-income working households.