More help with childcare costs needed says MHK

More financial support needs to be available for new parents if the Isle of Man wants to tackle the falling birth rate. 

That's the view of Garff MHK Daphne Caine - last week she called on the Policy and Reform Minister to review pre-school credit and child benefit. 

She says she believes it costs £9,000 a year for childcare - the current pre-school credit is £1,700:  

The 2016 Census shows births are at their lowest level since 1987 - the under 50 population has also fallen by eight per cent since 2011.  

Minister Chris Thomas says he agrees a new pre-school education policy is needed: