8 March 2011
MP Slams Government Cuts to Childcare Support as ‘Disgraceful’
Changes to the childcare element of Working Tax Credit mean that, from next month, 1670 families in South and East Ayrshire will lose an average of £410 each year as a result of the Government imposed changes.
Under the current system, working parents can claim support for up to 80% of the costs of childcare, but from April that will drop to only 70%. Ayr Carrick and Cumnock MP Sandra Osborne says that this measure will bring a devastating blow to local families and couldn’t come at worse time.
The cut stems from an announcement made by Chancellor George Osborne in the October 2010 Spending Review relating to Working Tax Credit which is claimed by around 450,000 working households across the country.
Statistics show that the number of families affected in East Ayrshire local authority area will be 900 and in South Ayrshire 770. There will be an average family loss in both areas of £410.
Sandra Osborne MP said:
‘This cut will be felt deeply by local hardworking families and couldn’t come at a worse time. Many local parents find support with childcare costs essential to staying in work. Recent figures show that as many as one in three working parents are considering giving up their jobs because they feel unable to cope with childcare costs. The price of a nursery place has risen by over 20% in real terms since 2002.
‘I am also concerned that many local families are unaware that this change is being brought in in April.
‘This is a disgraceful cut which will have a huge impact on local working parents on low to middle incomes and this will be very hard to bear. As with previous measures brought in by this Government, families are again being hit the hardest. ’
ends
For further information contact Sandra Osborne MP, 01292 262906
MP Slams Government Cuts to Childcare Support as ‘Disgraceful’
Changes to the childcare element of Working Tax Credit mean that, from next month, 1670 families in South and East Ayrshire will lose an average of £410 each year as a result of the Government imposed changes.
Under the current system, working parents can claim support for up to 80% of the costs of childcare, but from April that will drop to only 70%. Ayr Carrick and Cumnock MP Sandra Osborne says that this measure will bring a devastating blow to local families and couldn’t come at worse time.
The cut stems from an announcement made by Chancellor George Osborne in the October 2010 Spending Review relating to Working Tax Credit which is claimed by around 450,000 working households across the country.
Statistics show that the number of families affected in East Ayrshire local authority area will be 900 and in South Ayrshire 770. There will be an average family loss in both areas of £410.
Sandra Osborne MP said:
‘This cut will be felt deeply by local hardworking families and couldn’t come at a worse time. Many local parents find support with childcare costs essential to staying in work. Recent figures show that as many as one in three working parents are considering giving up their jobs because they feel unable to cope with childcare costs. The price of a nursery place has risen by over 20% in real terms since 2002.
‘I am also concerned that many local families are unaware that this change is being brought in in April.
‘This is a disgraceful cut which will have a huge impact on local working parents on low to middle incomes and this will be very hard to bear. As with previous measures brought in by this Government, families are again being hit the hardest. ’
ends
For further information contact Sandra Osborne MP, 01292 262906