Tag: Lucy Powell

Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 4W on nurseries, whether his Department’s workplace nurseries access the Government’s tax relief scheme for workplace nurseries.

Stephen Hammond

The Department’s childcare vouchers schemes are fully compliant with the Governments tax relief schemes as set out under Section 318 ITEPA 2003. Of the two nursery provision areas in Hastings and Swansea, the latter is run by a "third party" organisation, therefore, it is not for the Department to comment if they has access to the Government’s tax relief scheme.

November 1, 2022

Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 414W, on pre-school education, who the 43 early years providers are who have been granted full or partial exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

Elizabeth Truss

Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure free early years provision for eligible children in their area. Local authorities determine which providers should receive early education funding in accordance with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education. Since September 2013, local authorities have been expected to base their decision on whether to fund providers to deliver early education places solely on a provider’s most recent Ofsted judgement.

Exemptions to the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can only be made in one of two circumstances:

When the provider is a good or outstanding independent school.
When the provision is governed by established principles relating to learning and development and those cannot be reconciled with an element or elements of EYFS, for example in Steiner schools.

Exempt providers remain subject to inspection and any independent school which subsequently falls below ‘good’ loses their exemption. The first exemption was introduced in 2012. The second exemption was in place under the previous Government.

The Answer of 10 April 2014 (Official Report, col 414W, on pre-school education) explained that Departmental records showed there were 43 early years providers with full or partial exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the EYFS, that were in receipt of local authority funding for early education at the time the exemption was granted to the provider.

34 of these are still in receipt of local authority funding for early education. A further five providers with a full or partial exemption are now in receipt of early education funding but were not at the point their exemption was granted. One further provider has received an exemption since the previous PQ was answered and is in receipt of early education funding. Of these 40 providers, 33 are exempt under the exemption in place under the previous Government, only 7 are exempt under the exemption introduced in 2012. These 40 providers are listed below.

Providers who were in receipt of local authority funding for early education at the time their exemption was granted and continue to receive such funding:	Reasons for Exemption
1. Apple Star Early Years (Community Interest Company), Reading	Steiner – established principle route
2. AZBUKA Russian Nursery, London	Language – established principle route
3. Beechtree Steiner Kindergarten, Leeds	Steiner – established principle route
4. Botton Village School, North Yorkshire	Steiner – established principle route
5. Brighton Steiner School	Steiner – established principle route
6. Bromsgrove (Pre-Prep and Nursery) School, Worcestershire	Independent – Good
7. Buttercups Little Kindergarten, Cambridgeshire	Steiner – established principle route
8. Calder Valley Steiner School, Calderdale	Steiner – established principle route
9. Cambridge Steiner School Kindergarten	Steiner – established principle route
10. Children of One End Street, Gloucestershire	Steiner – established principle route
11. Children’s Garden, Exeter	Steiner – established principle route
12. Children’s Garden, Richmond	Steiner – established principle route
13. Children’s Garden, University of East London	Steiner – established principle route
14. Cobnuts Steiner Kindergarten, Kent	Steiner – established principle route
15. Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School, Dudley	Steiner – established principle route
16. Falkner House, London	Independent – Outstanding
17. Greenwich Steiner School	Steiner – established principle route
18. Hoathly Hill Kindergarten, West Sussex	Steiner – established principle route
19. Kingsley School, Bideford	Independent – Good
20. Lancaster Steiner School	Steiner – established principle route
21. Laurel Farm Kindergarten, Bath	Steiner – established principle route
22. Michael Hall School Kindergarten, East Sussex	Steiner – established principle route
23. Michael House a Steiner Waldorf School, Heanor	Steiner – established principle route
24. North London Rudolph Steiner School	Steiner – established principle route
25. Rowan Tree Kindergarten, Bristol	Steiner – established principle route
26. Rudolph Steiner School, Kings Langley	Steiner – established principle route
27. St Albans Steiner Kindergarten	Steiner – established principle route
28. St Michael Steiner School, London	Steiner – established principle route
29. St Paul’s Steiner School, London	Steiner – established principle route
30. Sunlands Kindergarten, Gloucestershire	Steiner – established principle route
31. The Ryleys School, Cheshire	Independent – Outstanding
32. Waldorf Steiner of South West London	Steiner – established principle route
33. Willow Tree Steiner School, Bristol	Steiner – established principle route
34. York Steiner School	Steiner – established principle route

The following five providers are now in receipt of early education funding, but were not at the point their exemption was granted:	Reasons for Exemption
1. Elysia Children’s Garden	Steiner – established principle route
2. James Allen’s Preparatory School, London	Independent – Outstanding
3. Oswestry School (Bellan House), Shropshire	Independent – Outstanding
4. The Linden Kindergarten, Gloucestershire	Steiner – established principle route
5. Wynstones School, Gloucestershire	Steiner – established principle route

One further provider has received an exemption since the previous PQ was answered and is in receipt of early education funding:	Reasons for Exemption
1. Finton House, London	Independent – Outstanding

November 1, 2022

Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Gregory Barker

Since its establishment in 2008, neither the Department for Energy and Climate Change nor its non-departmental public bodies have had workplace nurseries available to staff.

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 26W, on nurseries, for what reasons his Department is reviewing provision of workplace nurseries; when that review will be complete; how many families access his Department’s workplace nursery provision; how much workplace nursery provision by his Department costs each year; and whether his Department claims tax relief on workplace nurseries.

Mike Penning

There are currently seven workplace nurseries in operation, by third parties, on DWP premises.

The Department’s current contracts with its nursery providers are soon expiring. Therefore, it is appropriate to review future nursery provision in general and consider whether it is appropriate and cost effective to continue to contract for on site services.

In addition, as part of its remuneration package, the Department supports employees through a salary sacrifice scheme where employees can give up part of their salary in return for childcare vouchers, which allows for significant savings through tax relief. This gives parents support in order to make their own choices for childcare. Consequently, as suitable alternatives exist, it is no longer appropriate to continue to contract for workplace nursery provision.

There are currently 361 families who access DWP’s workplace nurseries.

The cost of nursery provision:

2013/14 YTD (Feb): £29,112

2012/13: £50,693

2011/12: £80,811

2010/11: £88,494

The Department doesn’t claim tax relief on workplace nurseries

No information is held on Executive agencies and non-departmental bodies. There would be a disproportionate cost to source that information.

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on children: day care, how many survey packs were sent out to (a) childminders and (b) parents; and when the surveys were completed.

Elizabeth Truss

The surveys of childminders and parents were not stand-alone surveys but part of a much wider piece of action research by IPSOS Mori and Ecorys to gather findings from child minder agency trials. The surveys of childminders and parents were carried out to supplement fieldwork carried out with organisations trialling and testing elements of the agency model. The surveys were not intended to be fully representative of local populations and sample sizes were small. 1,622 survey packs were sent out to childminders and 3,426 packs were sent out to parents. The final closing date of the survey was 7 March 2014; the research is still being finalised.

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Stephen Hammond

Across the Department (which includes its Executive Agencies and non-departmental public bodies), there are 2 workplace nurseries which are available to staff. These are operated by a third party. One of the nurseries available to staff is based in Swansea. The other workplace nursery is available to staff based in Hastings and is open to several Government Departments. Both nurseries were operating in 2010 and 2013/14. There are no plans for the nurseries to cease operating in 2014/15.

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Attorney General, how many jobs have been transferred from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing by the Law Officers’ Departments since May 2010.

Oliver Heald

The Law Officers’ Departments have not transferred any permanent jobs from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing since May 2010.

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 411W, on families: advisory services, how many couples were eligible for the relationship support trial (a) overall and (b) in each pilot area; how many couples took part in each such trial area; and what the underspend in the project has been spent on.

Mr Edward Timpson

Information about this trial is available in the Evaluation report, which can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/262849/DFE-_RR311.pdf

The underspend on the allocated budget for the trial has been used to meet other priorities.

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November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Mike Penning

There were 7 workplace nurseries operated by third parties, including some provision for subsidised places, on DWP premises on 5 May 2010; all of which were still in operation on 5 February 2014.

DWP does not directly operate any workplace nurseries. The department is reviewing the position of all on site nursery provision, and until the review is complete, it cannot confirm whether any nursery will close.

No information is held on executive agencies and non-departmental bodies. There would be a disproportionate cost to source that information

November 1, 2022
Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many jobs have been transferred from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing by his Department since May 2010.

Michael Fallon

Following the sale of 60% of Government shares in Royal Mail on15 October 2013 some 150,000Royal Mail jobs in the UKtransferred from the public sector to the private sector.

November 1, 2022