Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her department has made of the potential merits of treating stipends for PhD students as income for the purpose of calculating entitlement to free childcare hours.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

Students who undertake paid work alongside their studies may qualify for the 30 hours childcare entitlement, provided they meet the relevant earnings criteria. As PhD stipends are non-taxable, they are not treated as income for the purposes of meeting the eligibility requirements for the 30 hours entitlement.

Student parents can access the universal 15 hours of early education, which is available to all 3 and 4-year-old children regardless of their family's circumstances.

The government recognises the importance of supporting parents who continue their education and offers a range of support for those studying in higher education.