SNP’s hikes on childcare threaten jobs for parents

PARENTS have warned they could be forced to give up work as thousands of families are set to be hit by increases in childcare costs.

SNP-run Glasgow City Council has revealed plans to raise charges by nearly 60 per cent – sparking anger from parents across the city.

Yesterday it emerged that an estimated 5,000 families will be hit by the changes, with costs rising from £2.54 to £4 an hour.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard raised fears over the charges at Holyrood yesterday, urging Nicola Sturgeon to ‘stand up for these families’.

He told MSPs about NHS assistant practice manager Sarah Spence, who fears she will have to give up work to look after her 18-month-old son Ollie, as her childcare fees will rise by £220 a month from £420 when the changes come into force in August.

Mr Leonard said: ‘She told me, “I feel I will be forced to give up work to look after my son, which is unfair, as I love my job in the NHS”.’

He quoted from Miss Sturgeon’s party conference speech in Glasgow in October in which she said her party would deliver change for parents facing a struggle to find the childcare they need to allow them to work.

He said the increase was a change for the worse, adding: ‘This won’t allow people to work, it will slam the door on work for people.’

He added: ‘Will you stick to your word, will you stand up for these families and will you stand up against these outrageous increases?’

Nicola Sturgeon said Glasgow had increased the number of free childcare hours available to families earning under £30,000.

She highlighted government plans to almost double free nursery entitlement from the current 600 hours to 1,140 for three and four-year-olds, and eligible two-year-olds, by August 2020 – equivalent to about 30 hours a week in term time.

She added: ‘The reforms that we are currently in the process of implementing with local authority colleagues will save families across the country thousands of pounds a year as well as giving young people the best start in life.’

Miss Sturgeon was forced to reveal a further £150million funding for the flagship policy after spending watchdogs said the plan had been thrown into doubt over a lack of cash.

‘Slam the door on work for people’