Sue Moroney
Education spokesperson

7 September 2011

20 hours Early Childhood Education subsidies under threat

The National Government today confirmed that it is making no promises to parents that it will keep the 20 hours Early Childhood Education subsidies, says Labour's Education spokesperson, Sue Moroney.

“Under questioning in Parliament today Anne Tolley did everything she could to avoid answering questions on 20 hours ECE subsidies. After being told to answer the question several times, Anne Tolley finally admitted that she could not say whether National would keep 20 hours ECE subsidies,” Sue Moroney said.

“Clearly National are doing their best to avoid telling parents the truth about the popular 20 hours policy.

“Today’s refusal to guarantee the current level of 20 hours ECE subsidies by the National Government is in direct contradiction to a statement Anne Tolley made just over two weeks ago.

“When asked on TV3’s the Nation Anne Tolley said in relation to 20 hours ECE ‘it’s working really well and we don’t have any intention to change it’.

“Anne Tolley has clearly been caught out lying and not for the first time. During the 2008 election campaign National promised it would not cut funding to Early Childhood Education.

“However, on becoming elected National has slashed hundreds of millions of dollars from ECE budgets forcing parents to pay higher fees,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

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