should higher income working parents get child care tax relief

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..or would that mean the benefit would be spread so thinly that low income families would suffer?

If granny or sis wants to look after the kids then should they be able to be paid through government subsidy? Without formally becoming registered childminders.

\link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-2233371,00.html\ david cameron on tax breaks for higher earners on childcare}

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Just trying it out...

Wealthy? I wish! No, I'm afraid it's the same story as others have posted. I worked afer was born, but two lots of nusery fees would have left me out of pocket, and much as I loved my job, I wasn't about to pay to do it. So we did the opposite of everyone else - when we had our second child we moved from a three- to a two-bedroomed house! And when I started to go stir crazy we used the savings to pay for the tuition fees.

I think, as others have said, our definitions of "wealthy" may be somewhat at odds! I'm just thankful my husband isn't a teacher as well, or we wouldn't even have been able to afford the "starter home" we live in now!

beatie, my MIL, who HATES the fact that I'm studying, keeps telling me how much easier it must be for me now. Ha!

Oh BBB - mine is a teacher!

I really hate it when people ask me how my course is going :o Luckily it's distance learning and highly flexible but still, deadlines are looming now.

Some free childcare would be nice (joke!)

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re the childcare voucher scheme through employers - it won't affect your pension forever, only for the years that you are in the scheme - prob while your kids are little

Blimey - I hope you live somewhere cheaper than here Beatie! We used to live in Yorkshire, and when we came south, we got half the house for twice the price. And then we had to "downsize" yet again when I stopped work. Now I don't think we could afford a one-bedroomed flat on my salary!

er....anyway... as you were everyone - back to the OP.

if we don't work we don't contribute at all - and childcare is a requirement for me to work. In Germany both childcare and public transport season tickets are tax deductible and they both be here also.

In terms of contribution I mean contribution to taxes - I don't mean the contribution you make by devoting your time to your children fulltime