Childcare Bill

I think I will take the views of my professor any day. There have been no weak answers from the Minister in this Committee, and he scores 10 out of 10 for a robust and full answer. I share the view of the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, that the Minister has answered many of our concerns. I am particularly pleased that he feels that there is an avenue for natural justice if providers feel that they have had a raw deal. But I also agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, that unless the word ““appropriate”” is addressed, it will cause problems further down the line. Just as there are differences among academics about whether there should be diversity of provision or nationalisation of childcare, there will be differences in what local authorities think is appropriate because of the political complexities of some of them. This has to be nailed down. I was very pleased to hear that the maintained sector is covered, and cannot go off and do whatever it fancies without the local authority having some idea of how it fits in with other provision, and that there is a duty upon local authorities to seek out private and voluntary organisations. I have one question and I do not expect the Minister to answer it now, unless he can. Would voluntary and private providers run childcare in the way they think it should be provided or would it come under the head and governors of the school?