Member

I thank the Liberal Democrat Front Bench—the noble Lords, Lord Storey and Lord Mohammed of Tinsley—for their engagement during the course of this legislation. I thank my noble friend Lady Blake for taking this Bill through this House alongside me. Her support, knowledge and commitment to children’s social care and education have been evident at every stage. I thank my noble friends Lady Anderson, Lady Twycross, Lord Collins of Highbury and Lady Lloyd of Effra for their support during the passage of the Bill, particularly for stepping in when I decided I was going to take an extended duvet day. I thank the officials in the DfE and the Bill team for their enormously hard work, both in designing the policy and given the considerable scrutiny that the Bill has received as it has gone through both Houses.