02 April 2024 , 08:22
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Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was called out in a BBC interview after she made a false claim about Labour's childcare plans.
Ms Keegan was told by presenter Sally Nugent that her remarks were "not true" after she claimed Labour planned to scrap an expansion of free childcare. The Tory frontbencher also refused to guarantee that every working parent of two-year-olds would be able to get the childcare they want amid fears nurseries don't have the staff or resources.
The Education Secretary claimed: "This is all something that we obviously have to roll out, but I'm very confident the thing that is most going to impact this system rollout is if Labour got into power because they've said they will not continue with childcare. We have is something I believe is really important." But Ms Nugent was having none of it, telling the Cabinet member: "First of all, that's not true.
Gillian Keegan was challenged by BBC presenter Sally Nugent"I would also just point out we have had Labour on the programme this morning. They were interviewed and spoke about this. So we're not talking about Labour, we're talking about government policy right now."
On Monday new reforms came into place giving working parents 15 hours of taxpayer-funded care for two-year-olds. This is set to expand later in the year, despite growing fears the sector is unable to cope with demand. The offer will be extended to working parents of all children older than nine months from September this year, before the full rollout of 30 hours a week to all eligible families a year later.
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Labour has said it will review the commitment with Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last week branding the rollout a "total mess". Ms Keegan was confronted with the words of preschool worker from Nottinghamshire, who said the funding was "not viable".
Asked by Ms Nugent if she could guarantee all parents who want a place, the Education Secretary said: "So this is a demand led system working through local authorities, through about 60,000 businesses. But we are doing everything we can, including put in the funding security in place.
"I'm working with the workforce and put a national campaign together to make sure the places are there. As of early April, I know that 150,000 families will benefit from this scheme because they have already registered and they've got their places available."