Ms Mary Rose Burke:

On the two issues of social housing and childcare, I am certainly very happy to look at the document produced by Deputies Bailey and O'Connell. The employer group would be very open to any measures on flexibility. We are already doing this, but there is a cost element that comes through very highly, and three quarters of our members report the cost of childcare is now a significant issue and one in four have identified that greater female participation would help relieve some of the pressure. We would be happy to consider any solution and give feedback.

Specifically on social housing provision, we feel policy has to shift from the counterproductive policy of private home acquisition and rental support to the construction of new purpose-built social and affordable housing to reduce pressure on supply. The current situation of renting private houses is not easing the problem, which is a supply-side problem. While we understand the intermediate issues that need to happen, we do not think it is value for money and we would like to see direct provision.