Clause 5 - Power to amend sections 2 and 4
Childcare Bill
9:45 am
Justine Greening (Putney, Conservative)
One of my concerns is about the suggestion that there may be an opportunity for the Government to redefine early childhood services. Local authorities will be reticent about putting in the investment to provide them, in case suddenly at some point in the future—the Minister said that there are no plans at the moment—the goalposts are moved.
My concern is that the measure will hinder rather than help the provision and improvement of early childhood services, because there will be an uncertainty in the minds of local authorities, particularly given the concerns expressed in the original debate about the lack of additional funding to provide the services. It is a real concern, as local authorities will hold back to find out whether changes come forward in future months.