Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Owen Smith MP, and Welsh Government Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, today in Cardiff launched Labour’s fourth General Election pledge -; to double childcare provision for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds.  Labour’s pledge is in full below:

We will double early years and childcare provision for working parents of three and four year old children.

This means an extra 10 hours free childcare, in addition to the universal Foundation Phase entitlement. We will maintain free school breakfasts for all pupils in primary schools.

• The UK Labour party has announced plans to raise the banking levy by £800m a year, this will equate to an approx. £40million Barnett consequential for Wales.
• Welsh Labour is today committing to use this money to fund an extra 10 hours free childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds.
• This will double the number of hours early years education or childcare currently available to households where all parents are in work.
• The additional funding will be for 10 hours free childcare, and not early years education at Foundation Phase level.
• We will consult parents, schools and the childcare sector on how best to roll out the extra 10 hours provision to meet the challenges faced by working parents.