Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Law change aims to allow agency staff to cover industrial action
The government has announced a law change to remove restrictions on employing temporary workers during industrial action.
Under current laws employment businesses are restricted from supplying temporary agency workers to fill duties by employees who are taking part in strikes.
The news comes as rail strikes resumed after talks between unions and rail bosses broke down on Wednesday.
The changes, which will apply across all sectors, are set to come into force over the coming weeks and will apply across England, Scotland and Wales, subject to parliamentary approval.
Businesses will still need to comply with broader health and safety rules, and it would be their responsibility to hire cover workers with the necessary skills and/or qualifications to meet those obligations.
The government has also announced that it is raising the maximum damages that courts can award against a union when strike action has been found by the court to be unlawful. The caps on damages will rise from £250,000 to £1 million.
Opposition parties and unions have criticised the plan, arguing it would undermine pay and working conditions.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said:
"The government should be getting people around the table to find a fair resolution to this rail dispute. But ministers are more interested in cynically picking a fight with unions than reaching a negotiated settlement."
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