The Spending Review: What it means for lone parent families in Scotland
One Parent Families Scotland is extremely concerned about the impact of Wednesday's Comprehensive Spending Review on lone parent families across Scotland.
The Director, Sue Robertson commented "It is incomprehensible that a government committed to moving lone parents with a youngest child of 5 years into employment, should cut its maximum support for childcare costs from 80% to 70% through Working Tax Credit. As most working parents will tell you, childcare costs continue to escalate, not decrease and parents will have to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets if they want to work.
Additionally, the freezing of Child Benefit and two of the elements of Working Tax Credit mean that lone parents will have fewer financial resources at their disposal with which to weather the storm. Lone parents are also likely to be badly affected by public sector job cuts as local authority spending cuts are implemented, both as employees and service users.
Concerned lone parents can ring the Lone Parent Helpline on 0808 801 0323. See below for a summary of the Spending Review.
