Peers demand addition of funding review clause to Childcare Bill
The House of Lords has voted in favour of an amendment to the Childcare Bill that requires government to carry out a comprehensive funding review before rolling out the 30-hour childcare pledge.
Peers voted 222 - 209 in favour of the amendment during today鈥檚 House of Lords debate on the Bill.
The amendment states that the government must carry out an independent review of funding and find a 鈥榗omprehensive and sustainable鈥 funding solution before introducing the 30 hours scheme, which is set to start from September next year.
Labour peer Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, who tabled the amendment, said during the debate: 鈥淢y Lords, we have repeatedly said that we support the concept of extending free childcare. But we want a policy that will not just grab the headlines; we want a policy that will work.
鈥淪adly, this is where we and the government part company.鈥
无码天堂 chief executive Neil Leitch welcomed the amendment but emphasised that it must remain part of the Bill.
He said: 鈥淯p until this point, the government鈥檚 funding review has been disjointed, rushed and unfocused.
鈥淭he government should now commit to undertaking a full, in-depth review of childcare funding, ensure that a credible, sustainable solution to underfunding is put in place before the plans are rolled out.鈥
The third reading stage of the Childcare Bill takes place on Monday 26 October.