British Chancellor Brown unveils ‘most generous’ childcare package

BRITISH Chancellor Gordon Brown yesterday unveiled a package of childcare measures he said would offer the “most generous” help for young families in the country’s history.

New mothers will be able to spend more time at home with their babies under widely expected plans for extending paid maternity leave from six months now to nine months.

Outlining the government’s 10-year child care strategy, Mr Brown said 3,500 children’s centres will be built by the end of the decade. Among the other plans for families was a package of financial aid.