Childcare Sos

EDM number 1978 in 2008-09, proposed by Mark Durkan on 12/10/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Child care.

That this House recognises the beneficial impact of the Childcare Voucher tax exemptions introduced in 2005; notes that 340,000 working parents across the UK avail themselves of the Childcare Voucher scheme and that the majority of these are basic rate taxpayers; is concerned by the Government's proposal to abolish tax relief on Childcare Vouchers; believes that middle income, hard working families who are just above the threshold for means-tested benefits would lose out most from such a change; rejects the assertion that the scheme primarily benefits those on a high income; notes that capping it at a given income would prevent undue benefit to those on higher incomes without denying assistance to those in most need; welcomes the launch of the Childcare SOS campaign by the Employers for Childcare; and calls on the Government to consider the serious implications of the proposal to hit the Childcare Voucher Scheme for worsening the gender pay gap, reducing opportunities and incentives for two parents to work, impairing the quality and affordability of childcare available to working parents and removing a key source of income for nurseries and childminders.

This motion has been signed by a total of 88 MPs.