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The cost of caring
by
Chris Gaine
—
last modified
2008-04-30 11:36
Just as Labour announced that it had beaten a target to open 2,500 children's centres, the Tory-leaning Policy Exchange proposed overhauling early-years care. Labour stresses the guarantee of quality care and support into work, but for Policy Exchange the watchword is choice. Targeted tax credits that help working parents meet the costs of accredited care would be scrapped, and replaced with a £55 flat-rate parental care allowance, paid regardless of circumstance. The eye-catching scheme has an obvious appeal to mothers who choose to stay at home - as well as to traditionalists who want to encourage them to stay there. 22/04/2008
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Plan to halve child poverty still off course
