Three Government department nurseries to close

The settings – Stepping Stones Nursery and First Steps Nursery, both in Benton in Newcastle and Waterview Park Nursery in Washington, all in the north east of England – are operated by Interserve, a support service and construction company, on behalf of the Government departments.

Open to HMRC and DWP staff as well as the local community, they provide in total more than 180 childcare places.

The decision to close the settings comes after the Government departments held a consultation in May.

At the time of the launch of the consultation, HMRC and DWP claimed there had been a decline in the take-up of places at the settings over the past 12 months. They also said that the nurseries were approximately 65 per cent full.

However, these claims were challenged by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which said that the settings had 75-80 per cent occupancy.

An HMRC Spokesperson said, ‘In May 2012 it was agreed that HMRC’s childcare support policy should be through childcare vouchers and that HMRC should withdraw from on-site nursery provision. As part of that, HMRC extended the contract of the three nurseries for a further two years, the maximum time it could be extended for.

‘A package of support will be available for affected parents that work for HMRC for now, up until when the nurseries close.

‘The DWP will provide its own support package for affected staff.’

The PCS Your Group Executive Committee (GEC), which acts on behalf of its members at the HMRC, has reaffirmed its opposition to closing the nurseries, calling the decision a heartless one that places parents and nursery workers in a vulnerable position.

The committe says that it believes ‘HMRC is adopting an equality of misery approach’, and suggests the Government department lead by example by providing affordable, good quality childcare for all staff.

It added, ‘This should be backed up with family friendly policies that encourage and help parents back into work.’

The union is now encouraging parents who use the nurseries and staff to campaign against the closures.

Last year, campaigning by PCS and parents was successful in saving two HMRC nurseries in Wales and Scotland, operated by Bright Horizons, from closure.