A Britain where people cannot afford to raise children? We see that risk, and won't let it happen | Bridget Phillipson

Birthrates in Britain are at the lowest level since records began as young people delay having children or decide they cannot afford families. Raising a child to age 18 now costs more than 250,000, with childcare expenses rising faster than wages. Expansion of 30 hours funded childcare in England has reduced costs for eligible families, saving about 8,000 per child per year on average, with more than 530,000 families benefiting. Government funding supports most childcare spending, alongside school-based nurseries, family hubs, and free breakfast clubs. Despite large investment, some parents still face hidden charges, restricted hours, or excessive deposits. The number of nurseries backed by private equity and investment firms has doubled, adding pressure to ensure investment delivers real affordability.

"Birthrates are now the lowest since records began. More and more young people are delaying having children or deciding they simply cannot afford to have a family at all. When you look at the cost of raising children today, it is easy to see why. Families are feeling the pinch. Many now spend more than 250,000 raising a child to the age of 18."

"This government's expansion of 30 hours funded childcare in England has made a real difference. Eligible families using 30 hours can save on average 8,000 a year per child, and more than 530,000 families are already benefiting. This is proving nothing short of transformative for thousands of families, getting costs back to 2005 levels for a child in a part-time place. A full-time place costs more than a third less than it did last year."

"My department alone is putting in a record 9.5bn this year, and across all government programmes we fund more than 80% of all childcare spending in the country. That is on top of school-based nurseries, Best Start Family Hubs and free breakfast clubs, all designed to back families at every stage."

"Yet despite that unprecedented investment, too many parents are still not feeling the full benefit. The vast majority of nurseries and childminders are doing a brilliant job but we have to ask hard questions every time we hear stories of families hit with hidden charges, restricted hours or excessive deposits that bear no relation to what parents are actually paying. That is not what this investment was meant to deliver."

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