Childcare Bill

I do not think that there is a conflict in the way in which Conservative Members have selected part of the data that is available to us and to Ofsted on the total picture in relation to closure and opening rates of child care places. When referring to lower closure rates, until recently I have referred to total closures as a share of the total stock in places, including full day care, child minders and out-of-school clubs. The Ofsted data show that that rate has fallen quarter by quarter right across the board since the launch of the child care strategy. I take it that Opposition Members are referring only to private sector places—