The Prime Minister and his wife Akshata Murty are currently facing scrutiny over her financial interest in Koru Kids, one of six childminding agencies currently operating.
According to reports, it is understood Rishi Sunak has declared the interest with the Cabinet Office. It is now up to the Prime Minister’s independent ethics adviser and the Cabinet Office’s Proprietary and Ethics Team to 'decide if there are any conflict of interests', said a source.
The Commons guide to procedure states that MPs are expected to declare any interests, including of their family members, if they are deemed relevant.
Delivering his Budget earlier in the month, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt announced that the Government would introduce a start-up grant of £600 for new childminders who register independently with Ofsted and £1,200 for those who register with childminder agencies.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Labour MP and chair of the Commons Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell, questioned the rationale behind using tax payers money to give childminders registering with an agency double the money than those registering independently.
She said, ‘I asked the Prime Minister, why is the Government driving people to go through an agency rather than signing up directly through their local authority? The answer I got is that it is a reflection of the fact it is through intermediaries so there is an additional cost.
‘I think that sums up how backwards this policy is. There is a £10M allocation to this policy. You could get two for the price of one if you cut out the middle man.
‘Why is the Government doubling bonuses for people signing up to agencies, I don’t know? The Prime Minister promised to send me written answers to these questions and I eagerly await his response.’
