Ms Mary McLoughlin:

On the timeframe for the early years policy, it is not that we are starting after the framework. It is a question of weeks rather than months. A great deal of work has been done and this gives us a huge start. There has been a great deal of discussion and consultation but the final approval by Government must have an impact on the final shape of the strategy. Once the framework has been published, it will be a question of weeks rather than months.