Agree on the child benefit point, but disagree on paying so much for childcare, if more couples were childless there would be population decline and less money in the pot to pay state pensions etc.

Typically one parent or the other will work part-time, reducing income, paying out exorbitant amounts for childcare, further reducing income - for a good number of years. I don't think that's entitled at all - I believe in France it's funded by the State?