Government policy has made childcare even more unaffordable, says TUC

date: 29 January 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Responding to plans announced by the government today (Tuesday) to reform childcare provision, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Childcare in this country is far too expensive, fails to fit around people's working lives and is undervalued as a profession.

'By cutting tax credits, freezing child benefit and withdrawing it for higher earners the government has made childcare even more unaffordable. The closure of hundreds of Sure Start centres, despite promising to protect them, has also made it harder to access affordable places.

'But deregulating childcare is not the solution. It will not reduce costs and instead risks reducing the quality of care. We need significant investment in childcare and wide reaching reform. Today's announcement fails on both grounds and will not be welcomed by parents.'

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