Lords question employers on childcare
19 November 2014
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it called on Government to provide more free childcare to parents of pre-school children, and on employers to challenge outdated assumptions about flexible working, the House of Lords Committee on Affordable Childcare heard the views of businesses and employers on Wednesday 19 November, as part of its ongoing inquiry.
Witnesses
Wednesday 19 November, Committee Room 4A, House of Lords
At 10.35am
- Lena Levy - Head of Labour Market Policy, Confederation of British Industry (CBI);
- Martin Pratt - Director of Children, Schools and Families, London Borough of Camden;
- Marjorie Strachan - Head of Inclusion, Royal Bank of Scotland
Questions the Committee asked the panel included:
- 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?
At 11.35am
- Liz Bayram - Chief Executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
The Committee asked 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.