Labour believes in giving real help to support families through these tough times. The government has a role to play in making life a little easier for parents whether it is by putting extra money in people's pockets or helping them achieve a better work-life balance.
During the downturn we have responded to the concerns of people who worry that losing their job could mean losing their home. We have worked with banks to introduce new rules so that repossession is always a last resort. We have introduced mortgage schemes giving extra protection to help families stay in their homes if they suffer a temporary fall in income. Without this extra help with mortgage payments, thousands more families would face losing their homes.
And because we know times are tough we are giving people a little extra in their pockets. We have increased child benefit and child tax credit. This year, basic rate taxpayers -that's 22 million people -will receive a £145 tax cut. And to make goods cheaper in shops we have cut VAT saving families on average £275 off household bills this year.
Labour has always stood up for hard working families. We championed parental leave, flexible working for parents and greater childcare provision and we will go further as we work to make life easier for Britain's parents. We are on track to open a Children's Centre in every community by 2010 and we have introduced a Health in Pregnancy grant to give all mums-to-be a £190 tax free payment from the 26th week of pregnancy.
We must continue to respond to the pressures that parents face in bringing up their families. Labour has taken steps to help families have a better work-life balance, including longer paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave and new rights for parents to request flexible working, benefiting 4.5 million people.
We have also extended holiday entitlement by four days to reflect the number of permanent bank and public holidays. A full-time employee, working a five day week, will now enjoy 20 days paid holiday on top of the eight public holidays.