Childcare Bill

I am sure that many people listening to the debate will share my disappointment that the Government still hark back to eight years ago and the records of bygone days, rather than starting to talk about their own record. They should do less of that and instead take account of their record and be responsible for it. The amendments in the group are important and I am sure that they will be debated further in the other place when it considers the Bill. The debate on the role of parents has been useful. I was glad to gain agreement from the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) on the fact that it is quite extraordinary that the Bill makes no reference whatsoever to the role of parents. I hope that that can be thought about a little further. It is clear from the Minister’s comments that, perhaps unsurprisingly, we are not going to agree on targets. We feel that a target culture is not helpful in always driving the right outcomes, but we will have to agree to differ on that point. I want to pick up on the Minister’s response on the pooling of resources. I am pleased that she is satisfied that we can leave a slight open-endedness when ensuring that partner agencies are compelled to take part in discussions and provide staff and resources locally for child care. I hope that she is right that that will be sufficient to secure the support that is needed. Knowing the financial position of my primary care trust in north Hampshire, which is £14 million in deficit, I find it difficult to see how great priority is going to be given to the matter in the future. I am sure that all those issues will receive further discussion in the Lords. Returning to our discussion on ““mind the gap””, which has taken up most of the debate on this group of amendments, I am pleased that the Prime Minister agrees with us that it is levelling up that is important. We are entirely happy with the idea of reducing the gap between people who are disadvantaged and those who are not, but we believe that that is best done by raising aspirations. People listening to the debate will find it difficult to understand why Government Members take such exception to our argument. As a parent, I understand why many parents throughout the country believe that we should have better aspirations for our children—whether we come from the most wealthy or the most deprived areas of the country. We believe that if we put raising aspirations at the core of the Bill, we will make it better.