Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve childcare infrastructure; and how much LIBOR funding has been used for that purpose.

The Government recognises that many military units, both in the UK and overseas, have evolved without the same standard of purpose-built childcare facilities that civilian families can expect. That is why the Chancellor announced in 2013 that up to £20 million of LIBOR money would be provided to update existing childcare facilities and provide new purpose-built buildings on the Defence Estate.

In December 2014 the Prime Minister announced that around £3 million of this money will be spent on a childcare project at the RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. In addition, initial scoping undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has identified a further 38 locations where this money could increase the accessibility or availability of childcare provision for the Service community. MOD officials are now working to establish the levels of funding required for each project and announcements will be made in due course. It is anticipated the full £20 million will be used.