HEREFORDSHIRE CHILDMINDERS' CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL SAYS CARR

5.27.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

The Liberal Democrats are fighting on every level to prevent government plans for a 400% increase in annual registration fees for registered childminders and other childcare providers.

Sarah Carr, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire has welcomed the decision by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) not to press ahead with a 400% increase over three years in annual registration fees for registered childminders and other childcare providers.

Sarah has been campaigning against the increase in costs to childminders after having been contacted by a number of Herefordshire childminders for her support. Childminders feared that some of their small businesses could be forced out of business by the significant rise when there are already many costs and also of the danger of an increase in unregistered providers, thereby endangering the safety of children and dramatically undermining the increasing quality of registered childminders.

Sarah said,

"When I was asked for help I immediately understood the concerns of Herefordshire childminders. I was pleased to support the National Childminding Association (NCMA) campaign and do everything I could to stop the proposals to massively increase fees on behalf of all childminders and working parents in Herefordshire. I am delighted that the campaign has been successful - that the DCSF have listened to the arguments and will not be introducing such a massive increase in costs on our vital childminders."

In supporting Herefordshire childminders' Sarah raised the issue with Paul Keetch as MP for Hereford who wrote to the DCSF to express his concerns. Mrs Carr also lobbied other Liberal Democrat MPs with portfolio responsibility in family issues who added their voice in opposing the proposals to government officials. The National Childminding Association (NCMA) orchestrated a very successful letter campaign of over 3000 childminders' letters against the proposals.