Examination of Witnesses (Questions 80-81)
JOBCENTRE PLUS
AND DEPARTMENT
FOR WORK
AND PENSIONS
Q80 Chairman: Surely you agree that
it is absurd to force women with young children back into work
and then for the state to pay for very expensive childminding?
That is the American approach.
Ms White: In the States it has
saved money because although initially the costs are significantly
higher for childcare because women tend to get jobs and stay in
work for longer actually there have been huge savings. I forget
the precise numbers but it is something like 30 or 40% in some
States.
Q81 Chairman: Has anybody assessed
what it means for the child? The mother is effectively forced
back into work; the child is given to a childminder paid for by
the state. Does anybody assess in Wisconsin what it means to the
child?
Ms White: The analyses of the
social and developmental impacts have only just been done. Most
of the analyses have been focused around financial and economic
impact.
Chairman: That is very interesting. There
is a division now. That concludes our inquiry.
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