2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:44 pm on 16 January 2018.

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Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 2:44, 16 January 2018

I wondered whether we could have a statement with regard to the childcare offer. I've had communication—from not constituents; in my capacity as portfolio holder—that the Welsh Government funding guidelines relating to the childcare offer have now changed to mirror those in England, meaning that registered child minders will no longer be able to offer funded childcare places to a relative. Previous regulations stated that, as long as care for those under 12 was carried out mainly or wholly outside the home, a relative, as a child minder, could provide that childcare. It's meant that families with long-term private childcare arrangements with child carers are having to make different arrangements, potentially at a significant cost and disruption to continuity of care. The ban on related children in Wales is unique to child minders. Individuals working in or owning a nursery are still allowed to claim the entitlement for related children, as are those in receipt of child benefit. So, if I could have a statement from the Minister on that, that would be great.

The second request that I have is in relation to a response that the First Minister gave to David Rees with regard to the letter from the MOJ in relation to Baglan prison. The First Minister said he'd written to the MOJ and, because of not having a satisfactory response, the Welsh Government was not currently minded to sell the land at this time. I was wondering whether the Welsh Government could release that letter to all AMs so that we could all see it and understand the rationale for the First Minister saying that.