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Women, Justice and Gender Equality

I hope that the hon. and learned Lady understands why I hesitated momentarily just now. The 10-year strategy entitled ““Choice for parents””, which addresses the important subject of child care, had pledged, in a sense, a renewed focus on the availability of child care. In that context, are Ministers at the hon. and learned Lady’s Department talking to Ministers in other Departments about the rigidities of the planning process? One of the consequences of those rigidities is that there is often an insufficient supply at local level. That is damaging. The nimbys win and the interests of mothers and children lose. That has to change.