4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Childcare Offer for Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:27 pm on 15 November 2022.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 3:27, 15 November 2022

Thank you very much. I'm a bit bemused how Gareth Davies can say, 'Why aren't we advancing technology?', when, in fact, that's what I'm actually announcing today. We are announcing a digital solution for the childcare sector. I really think that he's seizing on things to try to criticise what is a very positive move forward. I'm pleased that he's noted that it's 100 years of Llafur today, and that we will be—. We will be celebrating tonight, and one of the things we will be celebrating will be the big input that this Government has put into childcare and recognising the needs for parents and children. And I think that Labour's success in Wales reflects the fact that we have looked at what people need and have tried to fulfil those needs.

I think he, obviously, makes an important point about those not able to access technology, and that has been taken very carefully into account, and there are means for people to get help if they're not able to access technology. For example, they're able to have a dedicated helpline, a phone line, and also in-person help as well, and that has been taken on board.

This service was delivered, actually, not through 22 local authorities, but through 10 different local authorities who acted on behalf of other local authorities. This will make it much simpler, much easier, for the providers and for the parents, in terms of being able to access the services. And it's interesting that, in our communications with the parents, we've actually found that there were very few who are not digitally connected. This is, obviously, a younger group of the population on the whole, but, nevertheless, I would accept that there will be some who won't be, and we have put measures in to try and address that. I think, in fact, there were more amongst the providers who may not have been digitally connected, and so effort is being put into that. 

The first week has shown that between 2,500 and 3,000 parents are already starting to apply to start using the childcare offer in January. In the first week, we had 2,000 parents actually in the process of registering, and we have already approved 400 of them. I tried the technology when I visited Darling Buds, and it was very easy and simple to do. The majority of providers are registered with the service to provide the offer. I think that Gareth Davies is bringing up other issues to try to diminish the success of what we're doing. Thank you.