Lords question parent organisations and childcare providers on affordable childcare
The House of Lords Committee on Affordable Childcare will hear from parents and childcare providers tomorrow, Wednesday 16 July.
In the first session, at 10.40am, the Committee will hear from:
- Anand Shukla, Chief Executive of the Family and Childcare Trust;
- Julie McCarthy, Head of Policy, Research and Communications at Working Families; and
- Caroline Davey, Director of Policy, Advice and Communications at Gingerbread.
Questions the Committee are likely to put to the witnesses include:
- What do parents want from childcare?
- How do parents choose between different types and providers of childcare?
- How does the cost of childcare influence parents' work choices?
- Would reducing the amount parents pay directly for childcare justify higher levels of taxation for all?
Following on, at 11.40am, the Committee will question Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, and Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
Questions the Committee are likely to put to the witnesses include:
- What role should the state play in childcare and childcare markets?
- What is driving trends in childcare costs?
- What are the main barriers to keeping costs down while maintaining quality?
- Do OFSTED criteria match providers' understanding of quality?
The evidence sessions will take place on Wednesday 16 July at 10.40am in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
