Government wants to expand childcare voucher scheme

The government says it wants to expand a new childcare tax credit scheme to include parents who stay at home because they are carers.

A 12-week consultation on the system - which was first announced in March’s budget - is expected to start later.

Families with two working parents on less than £150,000 each would be able to claim up to £1,200 a year per child.

I hope during the consultation period someone brings up the major discrepancy in this scheme that means if both parents work and bring in £200k a year they will be entitled to claim up to £1,200 per child, yet if one parent works and earns £60,000 and the other stays at home to look after the child they are entitled to absolutely nothing.

I would really like to hear George Osborne, David Cameron, or frankly anybody try and explain to me because however you look at it, it doesn’t make any sense.

In March’s budget, when this scheme was announced, George Osborne also cut winter fuel allowances for the wealthiest pensioners, now couldn’t the same sort of logic be applied here, if a family are bringing in £200k a year do they really need the option of claiming up to £1,200 per child, I don’t think so.

Surely it would make more sense just to means test families so that those who need financial support get it and those who are financially secure don’t.