MINISTER EXCEEDS TO BURT'S REQUEST FOR CHILDCARE REVIEW IN PARLIAMENT

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 7th Jul 2006

The Government have yesterday exceeded to Liberal Democrat requests to review crèche and childcare provision for Members of Parliament and their staff.

Liberal Democrat Women and Equality spokesperson Lorely Burt MP said,

"What message are we sending to women when, in the twenty-first century, the Westminster Estate still lacks a crèche and other appropriate childcare facilities for Honourable Members and their staff?"

Mrs Burt added:

"I am delighted that the Government have conceded that they need to conduct a review of crèche and childcare facilities for MPs and their staff, it is an important step towards giving women and men greater flexibility in their working life."

"Members on the Company Law Reform Bill have recently been treated to the sight of one Labour Member, who brought her baby into Committee when her childcare arrangements broke down. While this was a welcome and enjoyable diversion from the questionable delights of the longest Bill in history, it sends out entirely the wrong message to women everywhere who believe that it should be possible to combine public service with a family."