Childcare Bill

My Lords, we have had an excellent debate. Indeed, it has never been my lot since becoming a Minister in this House to participate in a debate where the Government have been so warmly supported from all sides. Something must be going wrong and I shall suddenly wake up from the dream and find myself in the middle of the Daily Mail. No doubt in that unfortunate eventuality, the support of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chelmsford, whose excitement—the word he used—at the prospect of the Bill may save me from some of the worst consequences. I was particularly grateful for the historical perspective of the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, who proved the adage that there is no such thing as a new idea in this world. Of course the concept of substantial and near-universal childcare is one that dates back to the Second World War. I am glad to tell your Lordships that it has not taken such a drastic turn of events to produce the extension that took place in the 1940s. There were other, worthwhile features of social organisation, including identity cards, which the Government are also seeking a return to and which, on that same question, may garner more widespread support in your Lordships’ House. I have noticed that the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, who I am getting to know well during our debates on matters to do with children, where we share a substantial interest, is good at creating an air of great dissention, when in fact there is agreement on the underlying principles. Although we are largely at one on these issues, she did her best to try and create an air of great dissention by proclaiming the importance of ensuring that nothing in the Bill would force parents to choose particular types of care that were not appropriate to their own circumstances. She said that we should value the role of the voluntary and private sector and mentioned a whole set of similar propositions with which I wholly agree. I should stress to your Lordships that there is nothing in this Bill which will oblige any parent to choose any particular type of childcare that is not appropriate. Indeed we praise—