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date: 11 November 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcome for extra childcare places for low earners

Commenting on Government plans to provide free childcare places to low-income families, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'More free childcare places for less well-off parents would help thousands of families send their children to nurseries and playgroups which they currently cannot afford. This support would help many low-paid workers who get little or nothing from the current system of childcare tax relief.

'But requiring parents to be means-tested before they can get a place would put many families off applying for places and the thousands who currently use childcare vouchers would find they could no longer afford them.

'It would be wrong to pay for the new free places by cutting the support for the vouchers. But tax relief is not a fair way to subsidise childcare and in the longer term the Government should be working towards offering free childcare places to everyone.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
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Press release (300 words) issued 11 Nov 2009