News

Childcare for MPs to be paid from taxes

MPs will be able to use a new 'emergency' childminding service funded by taxpayers' money, under a new proposal from the House of Commons Commission.

The plans for the 'short term, short notice' service have been backed by the new Speaker of the House, John Bercow.

The service will be for MPs when the business of the House changes at short notice and they are forced to find childcare unexpectedly.

The core funding for the childcare service would come from public money, but MPs using the service would also pay a fee.

The plan to use public money for the service comes in the wake of the furore over the MPs' expenses scandal.

The House of Commons Commission, chaired by Mr Bercow, has come up with the plans, which are due to be discussed in October.

The minutes taken of the last Commission meeting said 'The Commission agreed that a specific proposal should be brought to its next meeting for short-term childcare to be available to Members at short notice. This was to be paid for by Members but to have some core funding in recognition of the likely irregularity of demand.'

Commons authorities recently ditched a proposal to give MPs childcare vouchers to pay for childcare on a regular basis.

That plan was dropped after an internal survey of MPs found that there was no significant demand for regular childcare among MPs at Westminster.

However, some MPs in the survey requested an emergency childcare service, particularly for use in the evening if they had to attend late votes at the Commons.