To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spends on (a) child care provision for under-fives and (b) out-of-school provision for the over-fives, both directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, and indirectly through resources made available to local authorities and other organisations; what form of provision is provided; and how many full-time and part-time places are provided. [35551]

In October 1994, we introduced help with child care charges in family credit, disability working allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit. The scheme applies where the charges are incurred for a child under 11 who is cared for by a registered childminder, play scheme or day nursery. In the long term, we estimate 150,000 families will benefit, including 50,000 taking up work, and that the help will cost up to £60 million.