Clause 98 - Subordinate legislation: parliamentary control
Childcare Bill
10:30 am
Nick Gibb (Shadow Minister (Schools), Education; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Conservative)
The Minister said that there will be a progressive extension as resources allow. One of the major functions of the House is to allocate resources as and when they are allowed to be allocated. It is disappointing that she has rejected the amendment, which would simply enable Members of Parliament to have a say in extending the age range. It may be that most Members agree with the Minister and the Government’s direction of policy, but it is not right for such decisions to be taken increasingly by Executive order or by regulations subject to the negative resolutions procedure. Those debates have been aired several times, given the huge number of regulatory powers in the Bill, and are increasingly being aired in other Standing Committees and in the House, so I see no purpose in delaying the Committee further. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.