At a conference to celebrate International Women's Day, the mayor launched his plan for a childcare strategy which aims 'to make an appreciable difference to the availability and affordability of children's daycare in London'.
The draft consultation calls for a strategic approach to deal with the problem of 'scarce and costly' childcare. A day nursery place in London costs on average 8,600 a year, 30 per cent higher than the average for England, and the report estimates that only a third of the provision needed is available for parents now in work.
The draft consultation highlights the plight of lone parents in the capital, where only 39 per cent of single mothers with dependent children are in work.
The take-up of Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) has been significantly lower in London, with one in five of lone parent households receiving it - half the average for England.
The document notes that many parents are reluctant to take up work and give up benefits, discouraged by the time taken to process applications for WFTC and the cost of paying council tax and housing benefit once they are in work. It says that a parent returning to work on 250 a week would only gain an extra 20 a week net, once average weekly costs of childcare at Pounds 140, rent of 80 and council tax of 14 are taken into consideration, even with the help with childcare costs that has been available through the WFTC.
Mayor Livingstone will lobby the Government to reform tax credits for working parents so that they better meet the needs of low-income families and to make the application process as simple and fast as possible.
Other proposals in the consultation include a guide for London parents outlining childcare options and eligibility for Working Tax Credit and child tax credit. There are plans for co-operative daycare in partnership with the Co-operative movement, housing associations and London boroughs to offer services at a lower cost and promote best practice in pay and conditions.
A forum for meetings of London Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships will monitor progress in the strategy's development and co-ordinate responses to issues.
A London-wide website, www.londonchildcare.com, is planned to provide parents with information on registered childcare, links to EYDCP websites, a childcare job search, details on training and qualifications and advice on how to set up provision.
