The Minister of Social Rehabilitation has defended the $70,000 salary cap for families or single parents to qualify for the Child Care Allowance Act.

Minister Dale Butler said the decision to base free day care on need did not represent a U-turn from previous Government promises.

However, 'Patterns of Progress', the Progressive Labour Party's election manifesto, stated simply as a highlight for the third term: "Free day care for Bermudian families".

It was claimed during the election run-up that a commitment to free day care separated the Progressive Labour Party from the United Bermuda Party.

On December 13 at 10 a.m. an entry on the official PLP website states that: "The PLP will provide free Day care for all Bermudians. That's a big difference between us and the UBP.

"The UBP will only provide day care for so-called 'needy' families. Our Day care programme will provide free day care for all Bermudian children from six months through preschool."

The website also stated that day care facilities would be run by trained childcare professionals. "Let us be perfectly clear: the PLP will provide free day care for all Bermudian children," it said.

However, Minister Butler clarified that in order to craft the Child Care Allowance Act 2008, the Government used both the platform and a refined version of the Throne Speech, and opted to provide free day care only to Bermudian families deemed needy.

In a message through his spokesperson, he said: "We went by what was in the platform and also the Throne Speech which was refined.

"The platform was shared with the whole country and used to determine who they wanted to govern and the Throne Speech reiterated it would be for those most in need.

"The intent was always for families most in need. This was clearly stated in the Platform and also in the Throne Speech."

This year's Throne Speech states that: "Sound criteria for provision of child care services will be established, and a simple mechanism introduced to make it easy for qualified families to benefit from the programme."

And in the House of Assembly last week Minister Butler said the cap of $70,000 was decided upon based on statistics included in the Government's poverty study.

The act, which was passed, was hotly debated because it also requires the child and the parents or guardians be Bermudian or married to a Bermudian in order to qualify. The child must go to a licenced day care centre or registered home day care facility, to which the allowance will be paid.

In the House, Mr. Butler said Government would establish a maximum monthly fee for child care services which will be payable directly to approved day care centres and home child care providers.

There are 60 day care centres and 82 home child care providers but Mr. Butler admitted there is a squeeze on places.