Deprivation/Child Poverty

Family stability is an important contribution to the well-being of children, so the Government have invested substantially in relationship support over a long period—since 1997. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's characterisation of the Government's policy in that area. My point is that we must not use that as a way of ducking out of the big financial challenge in achieving the target that we have all acknowledged this afternoon. I have talked about the changes that we made in the Budget, and I shall respond to the important point about child care. It was suggested during the debate that the Government's response to the Committee's report implied that having imposed a statutory duty to secure sufficient child care in the Childcare Act 2006, the Government would walk away and do nothing. I assure the House that that is not the case. The duty came into place in April and Departments are considering carefully what local authorities are producing and their sufficiency assessments. They will challenge local authorities to improve those when necessary. We are certainly not proposing to do nothing. There was some concern about that. I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in this important debate and to make important points— The sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put.