23/09/2013

Labour Pledges To Increase Free Childcare Hours

Labour have made a pledge to give working families in England an additional ten hours of free childcare, up from 15 to 25 hours, should they win the next election.

Working parents with children aged three-to-four years old will be eligible, including single parents and families with both parents working.

It is understood that in order to pay for the additional childcare Labour would increase the bank levy – an annual tax on a banks balance sheet introduced in 2010 by Chancellor George Osbourne.

Under the plan money would also be provided to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but it would be left to the individual governments to determined how to spend that money.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls is also expected to call for the remit of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to be extended to allow them to review the oppositions proposed budget manifesto.

(MH/CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 September 2011
Childcare Costs Force Poor Out Of Work
Families on low-incomes across the UK are having to turn down jobs or are considering leaving work because they can't afford to pay for childcare. New research from Save the Children and Daycare Trust also found that parents, regardless of income, say that they can't afford not to work, but struggle to pay for childcare.
01 June 2015
PM Plans To Double Free Childcare For Working Parents
Prime Minister David Cameron plans to double free childcare for working parents, with some families set to benefit as early as next year. Parents will benefit from 30 hours of free childcare, with rollout to start from 2016 – a year earlier than planned.
18 March 2014
Working Parents To Benefit From Childcare Allowance
A major new childcare package to help millions of parents has been unveiled by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister today. The measures will help parents to go out to work if they want to and provide more security for their families, while directing extra support to those children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
03 September 2014
Free Childcare Announced For Two-Year-Olds
Two-year-olds are to receive 15 hours free childcare every week, under new plans announced by the Liberal Democrats. Currently all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds from the most hard-pressed homes are eligible for 15 hours free childcare each week. Liberal Democrats want all children to have the opportunity to get the best start in life.
04 February 2014
School For Children As Young As Two
The Education Minister has said that children should have to start school at the age of two to help struggling parents find affordable childcare. Education Minister Liz Truss has written to each council in England to suggest school nurseries should take in kids and extend their opening hours to help working parents.