Responding to a parliamentary question from the shadow children and early years minister, Tulip Siddiq, the chief secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke MP, revealed that the Government has spent £2.4bn less on Tax-Free Childcare than was originally budgeted for the scheme over the last five financial years.
Ms Siddiq asked the Chancellor, ‘what the (a) forecast and (b) actual expenditure was for the Tax-Free Childcare scheme in the last five financial years to date.’
Data provided by the chief secretary to the Treasury in response to the question shows between 2017/18 and 2020/21, the Government spent around £630 million on the scheme when £3bn was initially allocated for the same period. However, spending on the policy has steadily been revised down each year due to fewer people taking up the benefit than expected.
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