MP in favour of new campaign

BARNSLEY’S Conservative MP is backing a campaign to give parents more choice on childcare.

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, recently appeared on the BBC’s Politics Live show to talk about changes she’d like to see to the way the government funds childcare.

She said: “I recently contributed to a report by the Centre for Social Justice which looks at alternative ways of using the significant amount of money the government spends on subsidising childcare.

“The report finds that most parents actually want more choice in the sort of childcare they use, and would prefer to spend more time at home in the early years but find it financially difficult to do so.

“I believe passionately that childcare subsidies should be focussed on what is best for children and families, not just on encouraging as many new parents as possible back into work as quickly as possible.

“The idea for a new family credit would give parents and carers more choice, such as being able to pay grandparents to provide childcare or to stay at home themselves to look after their children.

“This is similar to the model used in France and Canada, and would be a good way to support families in the vital early years.”