MPs debate childcare and women and the cost of living

Debate: Childcare

MPs debated the motion:

That this House recognises that families are facing rising childcare costs; notes the reduction in the availability of early years childcare; and calls on the Government to help work pay by extending from 15 to 25 hours the provision of free childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds funded by an increase in the Bank Levy. 

The debate was moved by Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Tristram Hunt. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Elizabeth Truss responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Opposition debate on Childcare
• Read Commons Hansard: Opposition debate on Childcare
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Childcare

Debate: Women and the Cost of Living

In the second of the day's Opposition debates, MPs debated the motion:

That this House believes that the Government is failing to deliver a recovery for women and is making women pay three times more than men to bring down the deficit, according to research by the House of Commons Library; notes that under this Government, women’s unemployment has reached its highest levels for a generation; further notes that wages are stagnating in jobs where women are predominant; and calls on the Government to support more women into decent work by extending free nursery places for 3 and 4 year olds from 15 to 25 hours a week for parents at work, provide a legal guarantee for 8am-6pm breakfast and afterschool club childcare, and bring in Make Work Pay contracts to provide a 12 months tax rebate for firms which sign up to pay the living wage.

The debate was moved by Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, Gloria De Piero. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Nicky Morgan, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Opposition debate on Women and the Cost of Living
• Read Commons Hansard: Opposition debate on Women and the Cost of Living

Related information

About Opposition day debates

Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition.

Seventeen days are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the largest opposition party, to decide which matters are debated.

Three days are usually divided between the other opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.

•  About Parliament: Main business (debates)

Watching Opposition day debates from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery. 

•  How to attend a debate in the Chamber or in Westminster Hall

This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.