More important, the chancellor has tinkered at the edges for the sake of cost-cutting rather than going back to the drawing board to think about reforms that could save money and advance key national priorities. He should have put universal, high-quality and affordable childcare at the heart of his budget.
Giving parents access to good childcare means they can balance work with bringing up their kids. Children also stand to gain. Two working parents mean fewer children living in poverty. High-quality childcare provides an environment in which children's development can flourish.
The question remains though - how do we pay for more and better childcare? One solution would be to hold down rises in child benefit over a long period, say ten years, and channel the savings into building up childcare. This would could lead to an extra £2.5 billion a year by the end of the decade.
Shifting money from benefits to childcare services has been done before with great success - Quebec in Canada took a similar approach when it reduced income payments to families and increased early years provision. It reduced the costs of childcare to parents and helped increase employment. When public finances are tight, it is vital for policy makers to ensure resources are spent to their best effect.