Mayor Boris Johnson came under pressure to end the “brain drain” of talented women from London’s workforce today, as figures showed that less than two thirds of mothers in the capital were in employment.
Lib-Dem mayoral hopeful Caroline Pidgeon warned that working parents, and mothers in particular, needed more help to deal with the cost and availability of childcare or London’s economy would suffer.
In a report into childcare, she said City Hall should do more to make provision more flexible, available and affordable. The latest official ONS figures show that 63 per cent of mothers in London were in employment, the lowest level in the UK and compared with 73 per cent nationally.
Just 42 per cent of women with children under the age of five are in employment in London, compared with 52 per cent in the rest of the UK.
Ms Pidgeon, a working mother as a London Assembly member, said: “It is crystal clear that London has fewer working mothers, largely due to the lack of suitable or affordable childcare.
“It is time to end the brain drain of talented women, who are ultimately excluded from London’s workforce. A more family-friendly London would be good for families and good for London businesses.”
Her report called on City Hall — including Transport for London and the Met Police — to offer interest-free loans for employees to meet the initial costs of childcare registration at a nursery, which can cost up to £1,500.
It recommended that when public land controlled by the Mayor was released for new schools nurseries should also be provided.
It added that councils should be encouraged to extend business rate relief to childcare providers.
