Member

The previous Government had a great commitment to early years. Rather as the Minister said in the earlier group about there being no mention of the Online Safety Act, I thought it was interesting that we have not really touched in this debate on the growth in support, not only for the very important family hubs but for the unprecedented expansion in funding for childcare for all children aged from nine months to three years, with an offer for all from this September of 30 hours of free childcare a week. Of course, there is a very important distinction: that support is for children, not children and parents. However, it is a very important element. The Government have rightly continued with this commitment, although, as the Minister will know, changes to employer national insurance contributions and increases in the national living wage have hit childcare providers hard. She will know there are very serious concerns about the viability of some of those early years providers unless there are increases in the early years funding rates. The Education Select Committee, in its report on the provision of childcare, has also stressed the need for the funding rate to be set at a sufficient level. Can the Minister update the Committee on the Government’s plans to address this?