'I am therefore unconvinced that this investment is evidence-based or well-targeted…I do not believe that the policy behind this Bill shows that the scheme will be suitable for the long-term.'

Now, those are the children's commissioner's views.

Do you know, by the way, that couples who earn up to £199,000 a year will be eligible for the free childcare offer? Now, the Government tells us that those who are less well-off have access to Flying Start—and I'm now addressing the point you made, Mike. Most disadvantaged children, of course, don’t live in Flying Start areas, and that’s the problem: it’s geographically limited. Half of our poorest, most disadvantaged, most fragile, most at risk of being left behind children will be shut out by this policy because they won’t be able to access free childcare, whilst families earning potentially £199,000 a year are given free childcare by this Labour Government. Is it really what Labour now represents? Because if it is, you've clearly lost your way. Listen to the children’s commissioner, listen to Save the Children and others, listen to Plaid Cymru: make the childcare offer universal so that everyone, including our poorest children, can equally have the best start in life.