CHILDREN’S Minister Robert Goodwill visited a North Yorkshire nursery yesterday to highlight the benefits of the Government’s scheme to offer 30 hours of free childcare to working parents.

York and North Yorkshire were among the areas to pilot the scheme. It wasn’t without critics, with some nursery owners arguing the free places were underfunded and could lead to nurseries struggling.

But last month we revealed the number of childcare places available in York had grown by more than 10 per cent. If that means more parents can go out to work, it must be a good thing.