Childcare in Cumbria is completely unaffordable for many, MP tells ministers

In Parliament this week, local MP Tim Farron urged ministers to make childcare affordable for people and families in Cumbria.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate, Tim also said a lack of Government funding was leading to childcare becoming inaccessible. In the past seven years, six childcare providers have closed in Kendal alone.

Tim listed a number of actions the Government could take to tackle the problem, including:

• Increasing the child element of universal credit by at least £15 a week and abolishing the benefit cap
• Offering free, high-quality childcare for every child aged two to four, and for children aged between nine and 24 months whose parents or guardians are in work 35 hours a week, 48 weeks a year.
• Overhauling the annual uprating of benefit levels so that rates always keep pace with prices and living standards.

Speaking during the debate, Tim said: "I have a few examples from my constituency in the last week.

"A constituent who contacted me has a five-year-old and an 18-month-old. She is a teaching assistant and wants to return to work, but childcare for the 18-month-old is so expensive that there is simply no point. The childcare cost would be more than her wage. That speaks for many other people and their experiences, too.

"Another mum got in touch with me, telling me that she spends more on childcare than she does on her mortgage. She calculated that she will spend about £63,000 on childcare for her two children before they go to school. That includes the 30 free hours and a couple of days a week covered by family. She works for the NHS, but she is considering leaving her job.

"Another constituent was a nurse at Westmorland General Hospital. She wanted to return to work after having her daughter, but her pay would not be enough to cover the childcare bill. She would earn less money if she returned to work.

"If we want people to be in work, childcare must be accessible and affordable."