The Government is expanding its childcare scheme so that working parents with incomes under £100,000 will be eligible for 30 hours free. Credit: Moment RF < p>Jeremy Hunt has said he wants to look at funding childcare for «the highest earners» if the Conservatives win the next general election.
The Chancellor has stepped up comments that he said earlier this week that for those in his constituency earning £100,000, «it's not as far off as you think» given the cost of a mortgage and the cost of childcare.
< p>Under the current childcare system, if one parent exceeds the income threshold of £100,000, the family is no longer entitled to any of the available free entitlements to tax-free subsidies.
But Mr. Mr Hunt said he would like to «look» at the possibility of increasing the provision of childcare for those on higher wages in the next parliament if the Tories are still in power.
Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News, the chancellor said: «I spoke to a constituent who pointed out that what sounds like a big salary when the average house price in my area is around £670,000 if you have a mortgage. and you have child care costs, it's not as far off as you think.
“And she's right… that's why I want to help families, and that's why child care measures are so important.
He added: «We couldn't afford to fund childcare for the highest earners, but I just said I'd really like to be able to look at it.» in the next Parliament, but we can't afford it now.»
Last year the government announced it was expanding the childcare scheme so that working parents with incomes of less than £100,000 would be entitled to 30 free hours.
The policy is being implemented
The government's phased approach will allow working parents of two-year-olds to access 15 hours of free childcare from next month, which will be extended to all children from nine months of age. old since September. The full 30-hour-a-week offer for working parents of children under five is scheduled to come into effect in September 2025.
The Government insists it is on track to implement the first phase of the policy in April, despite to concerns about delays and insufficient staffing.
Earlier this month, the Chancellor said he could not give an “absolute guarantee” that all the places needed to meet the commitment would be ready by April, but said he was “confident” the program was progressing as it should.
The cost of 25 hours of childcare in the UK for children under two in the UK has risen by the highest annual rate in more than two decades, according to charity Coram Family and Childcare.
In the most expensive area of the country, central London, the average weekly cost is £218.
Mr Hunt faced accusations that he was «out of touch» earlier this week when he tweeted on X:formerly known as Twitter that £100,000 was not «a huge salary in our region».< /p>
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has described the removal of childcare benefits when one parent reaches a salary of £100,000 as one of the “insurmountable barriers” parents face to getting into work. A report published earlier this year said this so-called «cliff edge» is forcing them to cut working hours to maintain childcare benefits.
The Chancellor also announced her pledge to maintain the triple benefit. a pension block will be included in the next Conservative manifesto.
He said he was confident the commitment, which would ensure the state pension rises based on whichever is higher: wage growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent, — may be paid. due to economic growth.
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