It is frankly astonishing that Ministers’ have shown such contempt that a cross party committee has publicly complained that they have been treated “like dirt” - Rayner

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the Work and Pensions Select Committee dismissing the Government's response to their report on Universal Credit and childcare as 'skimpy and disappointing', said:

“It is frankly astonishing that Ministers have shown such contempt that a cross party committee has publicly complained that they have been treated “like dirt”.

“Sadly this dismissive attitude is nothing new for struggling parents who are denied access to vital childcare support. From huge shortfalls in tax free childcare to the systemic underfunding of childcare providers, the early years sector and parents who rely on it have been neglected by this government.

“Labour will radically reform our childcare system, with 30 hours of high quality free childcare available to all 2-4 year olds and, as the committee recommended, a new funding model which avoids the need for parents to pay huge costs up front as they currently do under Universal Credit.”