Childcare and the cost of living: what should employers be doing to help parents in the workplace?
Following on from the CBI's report launch on 10 November in which it called on Government to provide more free childcare to parents of pre-school children, and on employers to challenge outdated assumptions about flexible working, the House of Lords Committee on Affordable Childcare will hear the views of businesses and employers on Wednesday 19 November, as part of its ongoing inquiry.
Having previously heard from parents organisations and childcare providers, the Committee will this week hear how employee's caring responsibilities affect employers and businesses, at 10.35am, when it will speak to:
- Lena Levy, Head of Labour Market Policy, Confederation of British Industry (CBI);
- Martin Pratt, Director of Children, Schools and Families, London Borough of Camden; and
- Marjorie Strachan, Head of Inclusion, Royal Bank of Scotland
Questions the Committee are likely to ask the panel include:
- How significant are caring responsibilities as a barrier to parental employment?
- How can employers create a culture that supports women's career development?
- Should employers be required to contribute financially to the costs of childcare for their employees, and would this help or hinder parental employment?
- What action would improve the employment rates of parents of children aged 0-5 years? Is the cost of childcare the most important issue?
- Is the proposal by CBI for extending free childcare sustainable when providers are already underfunded?
Following on, at 11.35am, the Committee will speak to Liz Bayram, Chief Executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY).
The Committee will ask Ms Bayram about the perspective of childcare workers, and in particular childminders, on how to achieve quality in early years education; changes to qualifications and status of the childcare workforce; how better pay for the childcare workforce should be balanced against keeping costs down for parents; and the effect of the new childminder agencies on the childcare market.
The evidence session will take place on Wednesday 19 November at 10.35am in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
The sessions will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and are also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
