What is the Department’s definition of a childcare organisation?
Mr Clarke: The definition of a childcare organisation is contained in the legislation. The whole point of having such a definition is to enable the identification of organisations so that statutory duties can be placed upon them. Clause 18 (1) states that ” “child care organisation” means an organisation— (a) which is concerned with the provision of accommodation, health services or personal social services to children or the supervision of children; (b) whose activities are regulated by or by virtue of any prescribed statutory provision; and (c) which fulfils such other conditions as may be prescribed”. The key thing to remember is that the Bill is based on the principle that the childcare organisation is already recognised in the statute. There have been substantial arguments about the suggestion, which many have made, that the duty should be placed on all organisations. That leaves the difficulty of identifying what is meant by “all organisations” and what is “an organisation”. Grou
