FREE AT A PRICE
Derek Hayes is spot on (Letters, 16 October). The whole idea of so-called 'free' entitlement is ludicrous. It's never free. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If one child has a free entitlement then somebody has to fund it. And it's usually the poor taxpayer, in one form or another.
These sorts of 'incentives' distort markets. Markets respond to a number of factors but quality and cost are two of the biggest. If you're providing good-quality care and your costs aren't too dear, you will ordinarily find you have customers. Unless, of course, the Government provides the service 'free' - and you can't get cheaper than free.
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