§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to extend the powers of local authorities to refuse registration to day nurseries and child minders and extend the criteria which must be satisfied for registration purposes to include the standard of care provided.
§ Dr. OwenI share my hon. Friend's concern that child minding standards in particular should be as high as possible, but local authorities have in practice to be flexible in their approach so as not to discourage child minders from coming forward. Local authorities have very wide powers under existing legislation, but many would require additional skilled manpower and other resources to raise the standard of care. The Government believe that local authorities are best able to decide how their existing resources should be deployed, and it would be inconsistent with that belief to attempt to impose higher standards by means of legislation.