Labour Pledge To Tackle Rising Childcare Costs

The average cost of a nursery place has risen by 30% under the coalition Government - nearly five times faster than average wages, Labour claims.

Party leader Ed Miliband is expected to continue his "cost of living" crusade by pledging more help with childcare if Labour wins power.

He will draw attention to the "childcare crunch" at a speech later by pointing out the average cost of weekly nursery place for a child aged two or over for 25 hours a week has gone up to £107 in 2013, from £82 in 2010.

During the same time period average weekly earnings have risen only 6%, from £449 to £477, meaning parents working part-time on average wages would now have to work four days a week to pay for full-time weekly childcare, according to Labour.

Mr Miliband will claim the coalition Government has done "nothing to help" families, and has added stress and strain to family life.

He will point out that there are 35,000 fewer childcare places and 576 fewer Sure Start centres since the last general election as he sets out his party's plans to "stand up for families".

Mr Miliband launched Labour's childcare policies at September's party conference, including an extension of free childcare for three and four-year-olds to 25 hours a week for working parents, paid for by a levy on banks.

Ed Miliband says childcare is adding to the stress of family life

Labour would also guarantee parents wraparound childcare - access to breakfast clubs or homework clubs - from 8am to 6pm in primary schools.

On a visit to a nursery today, Mr Miliband will say: "Millions of parents are facing a childcare crunch. The cost of a nursery place is now the highest in history.

"Rising prices have been matched only by falling numbers of places ... an average of three Sure Start centres is being lost every single week.

"This childcare crunch is affecting families with kids at school too. Parents are facing a daily obstacle course as they seek to balance work and family life.

"Under the last government 99% of schools provided access to breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. But more than a third of local authorities have reported this has been scaled back in their area under David Cameron.

"The Tories say they care about families, but they have done nothing to help for three years while all the time adding to the stress and strain of family life.

"If it's bad for families, it's bad for Britain too. Parents who want to work should be able to do so.

"One Nation Labour would stand up for families and make work pay."

The soaring cost of living has rocketed up the political agenda since Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy prices if his party wins the 2015 general election.

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