Welsh Conservatives will today hold the first of a series of forums as part of a mission to draw up proposals to improve childcare services.
A Childcare Commission was one of the key announcements in the 2013 Welsh Conservative Party Conference.
The first meeting will be held in Llanfair Primary School near Cowbridge and bring together parents, teachers, unions and interest groups, with meetings in other parts of Wales to follow in coming months.
Angela Burns AM, Shadow Minister for Education, said, “For many parents, their biggest monthly expenditure is not mortgage or rental payments, fuel or food, but childcare provision.
“A lack of family-friendly working practices, inequalities in access to nursery provision and the expense of childcare represent the greatest barriers to reducing unemployment.
“For some parents, it is not financially viable to work, because the costs of childcare either equal or even exceed their after-tax income.
“Welsh Conservatives want to go into the next Assembly election campaign with a clear, considered and robust set of proposals to address the challenges many families face.
“We want parents to be able to make an informed choice about what is best for their family, but where a parent wishes to return to work and contribute to our economy, they should not be forced to contend with expensive barriers.
“Over the coming months, our Childcare Commission, the first of its kind, will be taking evidence from teachers, parenting groups, and other interest groups to listen to concerns and consider how a Welsh Conservative Government could put them right.
“I would urge anyone with a view on the complex issue of childcare to contribute to our debate on the way forward for Wales at www.yourvoiceintheassembly.co.uk/childcare.”
