23 August 2002
Regional Development Agencies should turn their attention to improving child care, according to the Trades Union Congress.
The organisation claims that Britain's productivity is suffering because poor child care provision is stopping parents going to work.
It calls on the RDAs to address the problem and give access to child care a much greater part in the regional economic strategies that they are in the process of rewriting.
The TUC says that the RDAs already support productivity projects such as workforce development and, as what the union calls 'regional hubs of social partnerships', are ideally placed to spread best practice.
TUC general secretary John Monks said: 'Lack of affordable child care remains a headache for many working parents, particularly women.
'As a result, many women are not given the choice of returning to work, which drains valuable skills and experience from our economy.'
Government figures show that 47% of families do not think there are enough child care places available. This figure is as high as 52% in London and the Northeast.
PFaug2002
