Policy background
2 The Government's intention is to make childcare more affordable for working parents. This Bill is intended to secure the delivery of the Conservative Party’s 2015 election manifesto commitment to give families where all parents are working an entitlement to 30 hours a week of free childcare care over 38 weeks of the year for their three and four year olds. All three and four year olds and disadvantaged two year olds who meet the eligibility criteria are already entitled to 15 hours a week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year. This Bill makes the legislative changes needed to meet that commitment by placing a duty on the Secretary of State to make available additional free childcare for eligible children. The Bill also places a duty on local authorities to publish information about available childcare and other services available for parents locally. With the introduction of the additional entitlement to free childcare for working parents the Government believes that it is important that this information is published consistently, so that parents can access it.