Carla Lockhart said:

“I regularly hear from families who are just under such huge financial strain as a result of childcare bills. For many, it has simply become too expensive to justify continuing to work, and therefore they have left the workplace.

That is not a good thing for our economy or indeed for professional aspiration. We always need to ensure that work pays. We also need to ensure that women, who often are the partner to opt-out of work, are not penalised in terms of career progression due to the unaffordable cost of childcare.

I have been lobbying the Chancellor to increase the tax free childcare allowance as a means to helping families, and support work. By increasing the tax free rate, it would have helped all families with childcare needs. Sadly, the Government has instead chosen a more restricted scheme, which at this stage will only apply to England. A tax free measure would have applied across the UK.

I am also deeply frustrated that the Government continue to refuse to right the wrong that is the Child Benefit Tax Charge. Currently, if one partner's individual income is over £50,000, you may be taxed on your child benefit payments under the so-called High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge. Payments are lost completely through if one income exceeds £60,000. However, if both partners earn less than £50,000, household income can reach almost £100,000 without any tax impact on the payment. I see no reason why this cannot be reformed to be much fairer, but the Government refuse to act. I will keep the pressure on and continue to press the Government to act.

We need the Government to support families who want to work. Sadly this Government seem more intent on taxing people as much as they can, whilst implementing unfair and inequitable policies that harm family incomes.”