Nursery World - Tories pledge cash for informal carers

Pre-election proposals for funding childcare and maternity leave unveiled last week by the Conservative Party targeted working parents and poorer families. Details of the 'Supporting Parents' scheme announced by party leader Michael Howard include an extra 50 a week for parents of a child under five, 'regardless of what type of childcare they use'.

Details of the 'Supporting Parents' scheme announced by party leader Michael Howard include an extra 50 a week for parents of a child under five, 'regardless of what type of childcare they use'.

The Conservatives said the plans were 'fully costed', and would reach an extra 250,000 parents who use informal childcare, including grandparents.

To qualify for the 50 a week, paid through the Working Tax Credit from 2008/09, parents must work more than 16 hours a week and have a joint income under 58,000.

Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts said, 'Parents should not have to fill in unnecessary forms to claim what is their due. So Conservatives will scrap the rules which prevent parents from getting help towards childcare provided by family or friends, and make parents notify the Inland Revenue each time they change nursery.'

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