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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Parties promise better childcare | Parties promise better childcare |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two opposition parties are promising improved childcare in Wales as they begin setting out their policies for next year's assembly election. | Two opposition parties are promising improved childcare in Wales as they begin setting out their policies for next year's assembly election. |
| Plaid Cymru says it will double funding for childcare and help poor families if it forms the assembly government. | Plaid Cymru says it will double funding for childcare and help poor families if it forms the assembly government. |
| Conservatives will promise incentives to businesses offering staff childcare and flexible working arrangements. | Conservatives will promise incentives to businesses offering staff childcare and flexible working arrangements. |
| Access to affordable childcare is likely to be high on all the parties' agendas for the election next May. | Access to affordable childcare is likely to be high on all the parties' agendas for the election next May. |
| Plaid Cymru claims current provision in Wales is expensive and patchy. | Plaid Cymru claims current provision in Wales is expensive and patchy. |
| It said it would address that by doubling the current £56m budget and targeting help towards those with lowest incomes. | It said it would address that by doubling the current £56m budget and targeting help towards those with lowest incomes. |
| Day after day we hear from parents who would like to work but who, simply because of school times or playgroup times, can't do that Alun Cairns | Day after day we hear from parents who would like to work but who, simply because of school times or playgroup times, can't do that Alun Cairns |
| Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is unveiling the party's proposals on a visit to a childcare centre in Aberdare in the Cynon Valley. | |
| Speaking to BBC Wales prior to the announcement, he said: "We're promising that we'd increase substantially the number of childcare places that are available. | |
| "Currently there's a great shortage all over Wales - in some areas, it's non-existent, other areas it's patchy and all over Wales it's expensive." | |
| Meanwhile, the Tories say they would offer business rate relief to employers providing childcare. | Meanwhile, the Tories say they would offer business rate relief to employers providing childcare. |
| They argue that this would make Wales more competitive and more attractive to families and business. | They argue that this would make Wales more competitive and more attractive to families and business. |
| Conservative AM Alun Cairns told BBC Wales: "We're conscious that a lot of people can't work because of the lack of childcare provision or the lack of flexible working by employers. | Conservative AM Alun Cairns told BBC Wales: "We're conscious that a lot of people can't work because of the lack of childcare provision or the lack of flexible working by employers. |
| "It's about changing the culture. We need to offer something extra to parents and carers in Wales and we need to offer extra to businesses. | "It's about changing the culture. We need to offer something extra to parents and carers in Wales and we need to offer extra to businesses. |
| "Day after day we hear from parents who would like to work but who, simply because of school times or playgroup times, can't do that because they've got to drop children off and pick them up and there isn't that social infrastructure around. | "Day after day we hear from parents who would like to work but who, simply because of school times or playgroup times, can't do that because they've got to drop children off and pick them up and there isn't that social infrastructure around. |
| "We want companies to take a lot of responsibility for that." | "We want companies to take a lot of responsibility for that." |
| Sliding scale | Sliding scale |
| Nick Bourne, leader of the assembly Tories, will visit a nursery in Porthcawl with Alun Cairns to launch his party's ideas. | Nick Bourne, leader of the assembly Tories, will visit a nursery in Porthcawl with Alun Cairns to launch his party's ideas. |
| The Conservatives are expected to present their proposal as a family-friendly economic policy to help parents and carers. | The Conservatives are expected to present their proposal as a family-friendly economic policy to help parents and carers. |
| Tories are likely to offer business rate relief on a sliding scale, depending on how much childcare and flexible working firms offer and the size of the firms. | Tories are likely to offer business rate relief on a sliding scale, depending on how much childcare and flexible working firms offer and the size of the firms. |
| They are expected to argue that it would promote social responsibility and help people into work. | They are expected to argue that it would promote social responsibility and help people into work. |
| On Saturday Welsh Labour Party members approved a series of policy ideas, including placing the aim of eradicating child poverty by 2020 at the heart of all its proposals. | On Saturday Welsh Labour Party members approved a series of policy ideas, including placing the aim of eradicating child poverty by 2020 at the heart of all its proposals. |
| Labour also agreed that it would expand free childcare to include two-year-olds. | Labour also agreed that it would expand free childcare to include two-year-olds. |