Demand for subsidy as care costs rise

Childcare costs in England have risen on average by almost 10 per cent over the past year, according to a survey by the Daycare Trust. A telephone survey of 140 out of 150 children's information services found that the national average cost of a nursery place for a child under two is now £120 a week or more than £6,200 a year. However, the cost of a nursery place in inner and outer London is £146 and £149 respectively, or more than £7,500 a year. The cheapest regions for a nursery place for an under-two are the north-west and Yorkshire...