According to the Office For National Statistics (ONS), a third of parents use informal childcare so that they can work. Now that stricter lockdown measures are being introduced in parts of the country, it is imperative that parents can continue to leave their children with family or friends so that they can earn a living.

Council leaders in the North East have requested this exemption be made, but this request was rejected by the Government. Professional childcare facilities are still operating so it makes little sense to prevent parents from using other forms of childcare. If this continues it means that some parents will be forced to reduce their work hours; some will be forced to quit their job. This will disproportionately impact families on low incomes and women who do the majority of the childcare, thereby increasing the gender pay gap and increasing child poverty.

Pregnant Then Screwed, the campaigning group I founded, is asking Matt Hancock MP to urgently make an exemption for these families.