28.3.2000

Local MP Quizzes Minister over local Nursery School Financing Blunder

Edward Davey raises benefit anomaly threatening local nurseries during Commons Debate

Edward Davey used his role as a member of a parliamentary committee to urge the Government to act to plug a legal loophole which is causing local children to be turned away from nurseries.

The loophole has arisen due to a bureaucrat's oversight during the introduction of the new Working Families Tax Credit.

This has resulted, for example, in Surbiton Hill Nursery Centre being forced to refuse places to families in receipt of the new tax credit. Until the loophole is closed, parents and the nursery look set to pick up the costs which the credit was originally aimed at meeting.

Edward said, "This farce has arisen because the Treasury and Education Ministers didn't get their facts right. It is frustrating that as a result, parents who are supposed to be helped by this benefit, or indeed hard pressed nurseries, may actually face picking up the bill for the Government's incompetence."

"I hope the pressure I have brought in the Commons has now sufficiently focused the Government's minds and they will now resolve this as soon as possible."

"In the interim, I will be asking if the Council can help the nurseries effected out if they run into difficulties. Parents and pupils must not be made to suffer for a mistake which isn't their fault."