Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the costs of childcare in the last year.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has regular conversations with cabinet colleagues about important and topical matters, including childcare costs. This has been discussed frequently during cabinet meetings.

On 4 July 2022, the department announced further measures across government to increase take-up of childcare support and reduce costs and bureaucracy facing providers. These plans give providers more flexibility and autonomy to make decisions about their settings and needs of children, as well as ensuing families can access government support to save them money on their childcare bills.