§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on his proposal to seek to amend the Children Bill so as to deregulate child care facilities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe Government proposed in the White Paper "The Law on Child Care and Family Services" that registration requirements should not extend to private arrangements where people look after children aged over five. The Government have announced that they will table amendments to the Children Bill to amend the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948. These will rationalise the provisions regulating private and voluntary facilities for day care, short stay and holiday arrangements for children up to age 16.
Present provisions relating to children aged five to 16 are not well understood or enforced. Following consultation in 1988 the intention is for registration and regulation to be retained only for certain residential facilities and for it to be clarified so that it can be more readily enforced. When the amendments have been published we will of course consider representations made on them.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission on his proposal to seek to amend the Children Bill so as to deregulate child care facilities.
§ Mr. MellorI received a letter on 10 January on this subject.