Scots would give families more help

Further to the news story about the cost of childcare and the Scottish National Party's position (9 August), I would like to comment more fully on this issue.

No-one would dispute that childcare costs are a disincentive to work. The Chancellor has attempted to address this by the introduction of childcare tax credit. However, the Government decided that a maximum of 70 per cent of childcare costs would be met and, for many low-income families, the remaining 30 per cent is very difficult to find - the problem being compounded if the family has more than one child.

Confirmation in recent reports that parents in this country face some of the highest childcare bills in Europe imply that the currently available tax credits to pay for such care are insufficient. In this context we should remember that parents in the UK meet a far higher proportion of the total cost than in any other European country. In some countries free kindergarten facilities for children between the ages of three and five are provided if parents are unable to pay them, while medium wage earners might pay the equivalent of 25 per week for a child to attend.

Many of us have campaigned for years for childcare to be valued and for workers to be appropriately rewarded financially. It follows, therefore, that the answer does not lie in cheaper care which would compromise quality - rather we should look to the good models which exist in Europe and seek to offer increased public provision, which will without question require to be further subsidised than is currently the case, assisted perhaps by the contributions from employers.

In the General Election campaign, we made a commitment that in government the Scottish National Party would ensure that the needs and rights of children are fully recognised, and that families are effectively supported to care for them. Affordable childcare with improved working arrangements would form part of that package.