Childcare offer lacking from draft budget
Welsh Labour criticised for “failing thousands of families” on childcare
The Welsh Government’s draft budget has been labelled as a “missed opportunity” by the Welsh Liberal Democrats for failing to deliver on childcare.
The Welsh Lib Dems have criticised the Welsh Government for missing a “golden opportunity” to support Welsh families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis while also delivering a boost to the Welsh economy.
They have argued that more families are being forced out of work as a direct result of the cost of childcare and that the extra offer of £20 million from the Welsh Government will only “paper over the cracks”.
The party has called on the Welsh Government to commit towards delivering 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every child in Wales between 9 months and 4 years old.
Commenting on the Welsh Government’s draft budget, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said that she was “disappointed that the Welsh Government have missed the mark”.
“Instead of taking this opportunity to steer Welsh families away from sky-rocketing childcare costs, the Welsh Government has instead left them to fend for themselves.
Thousands of people from across Wales are being forced to make the difficult choice between paying out of pocket for childcare or leaving work.
This shouldn’t be the case, we want to see a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every single child in Wales between the ages of 9 months and 4 years old.
By taking away the burden of childcare costs, we can help people get back into work which will give our economy a huge boost.
The UK Labour Government have been talking about encouraging more economic growth, but it appears as though their colleagues in Cardiff Bay didn’t get the message.”
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