Mr. Kevin McCarthy:

I would point out that the new funding model for early years, which comes into effect from September, will see a significant overall increase in funding to the sector and to providers right across the sector. A total of 99% of providers will see an increase in overall funding for this year, which reflects all the costs that are captured in operating, running and establishing an early years setting. The 1% of providers that will not see an increase will see no decrease in funding. The Government is making a significant additional investment into early years provision through that new funding model, recognising all the costs that are involved for providers in meeting the level of demand and recognising the nature of those costs in providing different forms of service to children of different ages and so on. It will be a much fairer and-----