Jason welcomed the Health Secretary’s announcement that informal childcare can continue for under 14s and vulnerable adults to help support working parents.
Jason McCartney MP
I very much welcome the Health Secretary’s approach not only to save lives, but to protect livelihoods.
I acknowledge and welcome his announcement on the new exemption for childcare.
Can he confirm what those new arrangements are, and confirm that grandparents and others in my ​Colne Valley constituency—part of Kirklees, which goes back into local restrictions tomorrow—will be part of that exemption?
Matt Hancock MP
Yes, I can confirm that.
The exemption means that, for instance, if grandparents look after children to provide childcare, where that is a continuous childcare relationship—that is the legal definition—that will be exempt, in the same way that paid-for childcare will be exempt.
This therefore does not allow for people to have children staying with others and, as I said in my statement, parties and play dates.
It allows, where a family member or other undertakes unpaid childcare that is akin to paid childcare, that they can be exempted.
I know how much many people rely on this to be able to get to work, and I am really glad we have been able to make this progress.
