Clause 6 - Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents
Childcare Bill
2:00 pm
Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat)
Thank you, Mr. Benton; I welcome your advice.
In my copy of the Bill the long title does not refer to working parents. I take the point made by the hon. Member for Stockport (Ann Coffey) about children brought up in families where the parents are not working, for whatever reason. That is something that we should, as the Opposition, at least test, as parents who are not working look to us for the same facilities and opportunities as parents who are working. The hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham should not be too concerned about it. Certainly Liberal Democrat Members will support the Opposition’s efforts to ensure that all the children in this country can get the best child care possible.
I am responding on behalf of the Liberal Democrat party to the amendments tabled by Opposition Members relating to clause 22. I have supreme confidence in your wisdom, Mr. Benton, in grouping these amendments together, but I had hoped that we could consider and discuss all the amendments relating to part 2, which relates to Wales, in one sitting. Although the nature of child care and the requirements for child care do not differ terrifically in Wales, there are some differences. For instance, Merthyr, the constituency neighbouring mine, has the highest level of economic activity in the whole of the United Kingdom. The requirements there for child care are as acute as anywhere in the UK, and the Welsh Assembly must address that issue. We have problems in delivering child care in rural areas, where it is often difficult for isolated families to access the available facilities. However, the main reason why I wanted all the amendments relating to part 2 to be taken in one sitting is that I believe they could have been scrutinised better, in the round and in relation to the Assembly’s powers, if they had been taken together.
To move quickly on and address the amendments—