Childcare Bill

I believe that one of my honourable friends in another place said that the Bill could be renamed the ““Mind the Gap”” Bill. Given the comments of the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, that would be appropriate. I thank all Members of the Committee who have taken part in the debate. I say to the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, that I very much enjoyed his Second Reading speech and all his interventions. I hope that he continues to make them. I thank the Minister for her very full explanation, which I shall enjoy reading in Hansard. She said that local authorities would have to consider and plan, and that that was a difficult thing to do. Indeed, it will be difficult, not least because the Local Government Association has concerns about the new childcare duties, particularly on improving outcomes and reducing the gap in outcomes between the poorest children and the rest, and the fact that that will put financial pressure on local authorities. The Local Government Association questions whether the dedicated resources will be sufficient to carry out those duties effectively and in the manner the Government envisage. A second question is the sustainability of these resources and the Government’s commitment to building on the gains currently being made. Not only will a lot be asked of local authorities, but they are not sure that they can deliver. Much of the Minister’s response to questions on quality, training and safeguarding concerned issues that we shall pick up on later amendments, so I shall not raise them now. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.