Childcare Bill [HL]

Page 1, line 10,
at end insert—

“( )     Regulations under subsection (2)(c) must ensure that the description of

“qualifying child of working parents” includes children between the ages
of 1 and 2 years.”

Page 2, line 23,
at end insert—

“( )   make provision about the quality of childcare which is to be made
available”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Funding of childcare

For the purpose of discharging the duty imposed by section 1 the Secretary
of State must ensure that the level of payment made to any childcare
provider by the Secretary of State for the provision of childcare is paid at a

rate which ensures that the provider—

(a)   is able to cover the cost of providing a childcare place,

(b)   is able to cover the cost of ensuring sufficient training and support
for staff engaged in delivering childcare, and

(c)   does not have to subsidise the cost of providing free of charge
childcare by placing additional charges on other childcare which
they provide.”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Impact of childcare entitlement on low income working parents

(1)     Within 24 months of the commencement of section 1 of this Act, the
Secretary of State must publish a report on the benefits of free childcare
provided under section 1 for low income working parents.

(2)     
A report under subsection (1) must include an assessment of—

(a)   the monetary value of the free childcare entitlement to low income
working parents;

(b)   the educational value of the free childcare entitlement for children
of low income working parents;

(c)   the number of low income working parents taking up provision of
the free childcare entitlement.

(3)     An assessment under subsection (2)(a) must include an assessment of the
extent to which any monetary benefit to low income working parents from

the free childcare entitlement is offset by any changes to—

(a)   Working Tax Credits;

(b)   Child Tax Credits;

(c)   Universal Credit;

(d)   Child Benefit,

that have occurred since the coming into force of this Act.

(4)     An assessment under subsection (2)(c) must include an assessment of the
impact on the number of working parents of any changes to working tax
credits that have occurred since the coming into force of this Act.

(5)     
For the purpose of this section “free childcare entitlement” means any
childcare provided free of charge under the duty set out in section 1 of this
Act.”