§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions the ministerial group on women's issues has had about mechanisms for providing child care; and what conclusions were reached.
§ Mr. John PattenThe ministerial group on women's issues has discussed child care at three meetings (April 1989, October 1989 and February 1990).
The group has concluded that choice and quality are paramount considerations. A range of measures has been agreed, therefore, designed to maintain and improve the standards of the wide range of those providing child care for parents who choose to use their services.
Summaries of the initiatives on child care agreed by the group are contained in the press release issued after the group's meetings in April 1989 and February 1990, copies of which have been placed in the Library.