Protest leads to government rethink on childcare vouchers plans

There are now more than 80,000 signatures on a petition urging it to rethink its plans on the Downing Street website.

Speaking on Sky News at the weekend, Mr Balls said, 'We do plan to phase out tax relief, but no-one who gets that relief now will lose it. We are, however, always prepared to listen to any concerns that people have to ensure that we continue to provide support for childcare in the most effective way possible with available resources'.

Last week a group of nine former Government ministers wrote to the Prime Minister, protesting about the decision to axe tax relief. In the letter they said he had used out-of-date figures to justify withdrawing the scheme by claiming it mainly benefits higher rate tax payers, and that vouchers support more than 340,000 working parents. The signatories included former children's minister Beverley Hughes, former health secretary Patricia Hewitt and former Europe minister Caroline Flint.

Scotland is also challenging the UK Government's decision. Adam Ingram, Scotland's Minister for Children and Early Years, has written to Gordon Brown to express his government's opposition. He said encouraging parents to work, with the reassurance that they can access high-quality childcare, must be in 'our mutual interests in respect of steering the nation out of recession'.

A recent Scottish government report highlighted the importance of vouchers in encouraging people to return to work and in raising standards of childcare.

It is expected that Mr Brown will announce a revised proposal before Parliament breaks for its Christmas recess on 16 December.

- Further information: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/keepvouchers