SMF | SMF Report Launch: Childcare Vouchers: Who Benefits?

SMF Report Launch: Childcare Vouchers: Who Benefits?

Date: 10.00-11.30, Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Location: St Stephen’s Club, 34 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AB

Speakers: Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP
Maria Miller MP, Shadow Minister for the Family
Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat Children, Schools and Families Spokesperson
Sarah Jackson, CEO, Working Families
Ian Mulheirn, Director, SMF

Chair: David Furness, SMF

The final report is available for download here

In the furore following Gordon Brown's announcement over the ending of childcare vouchers, and the subsequent modification of this policy, many statements were made over who does and does not benefit financially from the scheme but little empirical evidence was available. The Social Market Foundation's report uses evidence from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) to examine how childcare vouchers are being used in the UK.

The report:

shows how much families at different income levels can save through vouchers;
presents evidence about the income and other characteristics of parents who actually use childcare vouchers; and
quantifies the cost to the Exchequer of providing tax relief through childcare vouchers, both under the current system and after the proposed reforms.

The childcare voucher issue is one element of the wide-ranging debate over the nature and level of support that government should offer working parents. Tax Credits, Child Benefit, the taxation of married couples, the availability of childcare provision, and who should have access to it, maternity and paternity leave; and flexible working are already featuring in the long general election campaign.

This event will provide both the opportunity to learn of the childcare voucher research findings and the chance to hear from all the main parties, and one of the leading charities in the field, on what should be done to help working parents.

The research was kindly supported by Childcare Voucher Providers Association

For more information please contact Sally Dobson on 020 7227 4401 or sdobson@smf.co.uk