What will Rachel Reeves’ budget mean for parents in the UK?

It looks like £26 million will be made available to open new mental health crisis centres, reducing pressure on emergency services. This sounds good until you remember that, according to the Children’s Commissioner, more than a quarter of a million (270,300) children and young people are still waiting for mental health care after being referred to the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS). , and one 2020 study found that wait times for CYPMHS ranged from zero days to four and a half years, with an average of about seven weeks.

If you’re used to taking your baby or young child to appointments, playgroups or nursery by bus, you may be disappointed to learn that the cap on single bus fares, which applies on many routes in England, will be increased to £3 sterling in 2025 compared to £3 in 2025. 2; however, bus fares in London with Transport for London will remain at £1.75 and Greater Manchester at £2, as these are set by the city.

A special section of the budget, playfully titled “3.Women in the Economy”, states that “women’s rights in employment will be strengthened, including stronger protections for dismissal of pregnant women and new mothers, and through the Employment Rights Bill.” The government will make it easier for parents to share childcare responsibilities by making flexible working as standard and providing guaranteed parental leave on day one.”

If your child loves to smoke, then I’m afraid to tell you that the government next plans to “phase out the sale of tobacco products across the country and ban the deliberate labeling and advertising of vapes to children.” They also promised to limit junk food advertising on television and online.

If you are a parent claiming Universal Credit, you should know that the new Fraud, Errors and Debts Bill will provide new powers to check whether benefits are being paid correctly using data shared by banks and financial institutions, including 3,180 extra fraud officers and errors in the DWP. and HMRC. On a less ominous note, the new fair repayment rate will cap deductions made through Universal Credit at 15 per cent of the standard rate. Before this budget it was 25 percent. There are also plans to close loopholes in the tax system, including “a new residence-based system to ensure that everyone who lives in the UK pays tax here.”

Unfortunately, there is no word about cancellation. maximum benefit for two childrenIt means families on low incomes will still only be able to claim extra support for their first two children, which many campaigners say is pushing families into poverty. Meanwhile, Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nursery Association (NDNA), released a statement saying: “It is disappointing that the Chancellor, who said she wanted every child to have the best start in life, has not announced what – support for early education. and care providers.”

In short, less vaping, hopefully more places in kindergartens and VAT in private schools. Let’s see how it turns out.