PARENTS in Lancashire who want to train for a return to work will get free childcare under a government pilot scheme.

The county has been chosen as one of the 67 areas to benefit from the £75m programme to support 50,000 low-income families where one parent is working and the other would like to improve their skills, allowing them to access free childcare and help to find training courses.

The programme, to be delivered through the Learning and Skills Council, will be extended to all local authorities in September, 2009, with childcare costs of up to £175 a week per child paid directly to the provider.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “High quality, affordable childcare is vitally important. By making this offer we are helping parents who would otherwise find it difficult to get financial help for childcare, to gain the skills and the confidence they need to return to work.”

Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, added: “Families living on low incomes, where only one partner is working, often need further training before they can compete in today's jobs market.

“The £75m announced by the Government opens up new opportunities for the whole family — enabling parents, where only one partner is working or workless families, to be offered free childcare so that they reassess their skills. Better skills lead to better jobs and better incomes and will in the longer-term help lift whole families out of poverty.“ The programme has an allocation of £75m over three years. It will be linked to the Integrated Employment and Skills strategy and will be delivered through Job Centre Plus and other information and advisory services.