Taxpayers are footing a £500k bill for MPs’ childcare as a Westminster nursery struggles with reduced usage from home working
Westminster: So, it turns out taxpayers have been covering a hefty £500,000 bill for a nursery that caters to MPs and their staff. This nursery has been struggling since the pandemic hit, mainly because fewer people are using it now that many are working from home.
Before COVID, this place was actually making a profit, but now it’s been in the red for a couple of years. In the latest financial year, it racked up a loss of £142,000, which is a big drop from the nearly £50,000 profit it used to make.
The nursery, which is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, offers cheaper childcare options compared to the average rates in London. Parents pay about £1,400 a month for full-time care, which is a decent saving compared to the usual £1,700 in the area.
But here’s the kicker: many parents who used to send their kids five days a week are now only using the nursery for two or three days. A spokesperson for the House of Commons said this shift in working patterns is a big reason for the financial struggles.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, really. While the nursery was set up to help parents in Parliament, especially women with young kids, it’s also been a source of controversy. Some folks think it’s a drain on public finances, especially when many private nurseries are hiking their fees due to rising costs.
Consumer expert Martyn James pointed out that families are already feeling the pinch with childcare costs, so hearing that MPs have access to subsidized care might not sit well with everyone.
As the nursery continues to face challenges, there are calls for more support for the childcare sector as a whole. It seems like a tough time for everyone involved.
