Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)

The noble Lord is very diligent in his reading. I am sure that he will have read the all-party report that has only just been published by the Economic Affairs Committee of this House, which points to where savings can be made in welfare in a way that will encourage people back to work to make a productive contribution to our economy. That is my answer to the noble Lord’s question. I have great sympathy with the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull. As I was about to say, I do not know who did the grouping for Amendments 4, 5 and 8 but it is hard to think of more diverse subjects than education, registered charities, housing associations, town councils and parish councils, all of which are in one grouping. I am astonished that we are expected to deal with all of them here, so I may test the patience of the Committee in trying to address all of them. Do noble Lords remember “Education, education, education”, that great banner carried by Sir Tony Blair, then leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister? Whatever has happened to the Labour Party that it wants to put a tax on the provision of education for those aged five and younger? It is most extraordinary, and therefore this amendment is very sensible. We all know that women, in particular, find it extremely difficult to combine childcare with work; this is adding to the cost of childcare.