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OMG - Gordon Brown will scrap Nursery Vouchers

158 replies

rob1974 · 29/09/2009 13:51

BBC says here that Gordon Brown is going to scrap childcare vouchers:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8279701.stm

We get two lots of vouchers and save about £150 a month. There's no way we'll both be able to keep working if they scrap them.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 29/09/2009 14:06

I expect it will be higher-rate tax-payers

stealthsquiggle · 29/09/2009 14:06

MP given that DH and I have seen our salaries decrease in real terms year on year for the last three years and that the tax saving on £243 each a month is the only thing we are 'entitled' to, we probably would be better off if I gave up work and took DD out of nursery and DS out of after school care, etc .

EldonAve · 29/09/2009 14:08

Employer-supported childcare appears to include childcare vouchers and workplace nurseries

The childcare voucher scheme was not available to all so always seemed a bit unfair

stealthsquiggle · 29/09/2009 14:10

How was it not available to all, EldonAve? Yes, you have to get your employer to opt in, but given that they don't have to pay employers NI contributions it is supposed to be cost-neutral so there is no reason for them not to opt in.

ClaireDeLoon · 29/09/2009 14:10

Maybe it will be limiting the relief to basic rate tax? Then everyone gets the same benefit regardless of their income? At the moment if you're a higher rate taxpayer it saves you £1,195 p.a. and if you're a basic rate taxpayer it saves £962 p.a. per the bbc link. So limiting the relief to a saving on tax at 20% means everyone will get the same benefit.

alwayslookingforanswers · 29/09/2009 14:12

MP

if they get rid of CTC and child benefit they'll see a lot of families out on the street.

stealthsquiggle · 29/09/2009 14:13

fingers crossed, Claire (although if my income drops much more I will be a basic rate tax payer, which will make paying the mortgage interesting...)

fishie · 29/09/2009 14:13

i do hope so claire.

EldonAve · 29/09/2009 14:13

Lots of employers chose not to opt in

Also some who opted in then reduced other employer provided benefits in line with the salary sacrifice

shootfromthehip · 29/09/2009 14:14

ffs. Is anything going to ever be straight-forward in this bloody country again?

I'm actively trying to go back to work but can't get a job in education as a result of all the stealth cuts in Local Education Authorities. And now I find out if I do ever get a job then I can't afford to take it because any bloody money I would go home with is now going to have to be paid out too. It's a total joke.

MrsGokWantstogocampingagain · 29/09/2009 14:15

Being a bit dim here but does this mean that the 5 sessions that we get free at the moment is to be scrapped?

TheBalladofGayTony · 29/09/2009 14:16

no mrsgok - it is the salary sacrifice thingy

ramonaquimby · 29/09/2009 14:16

it doesn't sound like this is the 'childcare voucher' scheme which is not means tested or income related at all

it won't fly anyways as the labour party won't be reelected

fishie · 29/09/2009 14:17

no mrsgok, they will be added to for 2yos, who will get 2 hours a day.

yerblurt · 29/09/2009 14:17

"The plans would be paid for by scrapping existing tax relief for childcare called the Employer Supported Childcare scheme"

Does this mean salary sacrifice schemes will go?

wasabipeanut · 29/09/2009 14:17

Great. No more nursery vouchers, mutual childcare arrangements with friends to be OFSTEDed to death, and claims all over the media that working women feed their kids a diet of crappy food and telly.

Could they kick WOHM in the tits anymore of they tried????? Jesus, where is Harriet Harman when you need her?

InmyheadIminParis · 29/09/2009 14:18

Okay, cuts are going to have to be made - but what is this? Let's beat the Tories to see who can come up with the most family UNfriendly policies?

cherryblossoms · 29/09/2009 14:18

MorningPaper - you are rather funny on these threads, you know. you're slightly Cassandra-ish and sort of stand in the corner of the market-place telling everyone that this is nothing, we haven't seen the full extent of the horror that lies ahead.

And rather like Cassandra, you're right ... .

Bramshott · 29/09/2009 14:20

But childcare vouchers is only one form of salary sacrifice scheme isn't it? I do hope that if they're going to cut this one, they cut the others too - the Cycle to Work one, and there's a computer one too isn't there? Not that I think any of them should be scrapped really, but if they have to be, why should parents suffer disproportionately?

poppy34 · 29/09/2009 14:21

Just about to post - it is sodding ridiculous and it is going to have a disproportionate effect on woman given (not always) it is usually marginal whether there is any benefit going back to work.

But then Gordon and co being fucking clueless on resolving deficit issues is not news.

CuntWhacker · 29/09/2009 14:22

oh ffs. Is Paul Dacre influencing his policy, so that women no longer return to work?

Undercovamutha · 29/09/2009 14:26

Wasabipeanut - my thoughts exactly!

ClaireDeLoon · 29/09/2009 14:27

bramshott - where I work your parking space is a salary sacrifice that you can save the tax on. I agree with your logic it is unfair if it is only this scheme that is scrapped.

pagwatch · 29/09/2009 14:27

actually I can't believe that anyone has watched the horrendous fuck up that is the deficit and thinks that we are anything other than royally screwed.

Are people really shocked. Because this is No 1 of 357.

morningpaper · 29/09/2009 14:28

What Pag said

and what Cassandra said