London mayor launches draft childcare strategy

At a conference to mark International Women's Day last month, London mayor Ken Livingstone launched a draft childcare strategy for the capital.

Livingstone said he would: "use the planning system to increase the supply of affordable childcare in London and encourage employers to offer more flexible and child-friendly working."

He added: "Ultimately I believe that sustained public funding will be essential to ensuring equal access to childcare for families in all income groups."

The draft London Plan, a development strategy for the capital, already includes policies that aim to increase the provision of affordable childcare through planning obligation agreements, and the mayor intends to produce further guidance that will include advice on securing childcare facilities.

Employment rates for women with children are lower in London than in the UK as a whole. Only 54% of women with children in London are in employment, compared to 65% of women with children in the UK as a whole.

The high costs of childcare in London may have something to do with this - average nursery costs in London are nearly a quarter more than the average for the country as a whole.