Sector pays tribute as Hodge moves on

The news, announced on 9 May after Nursery World went to press, sees Ms Hughes returning to Government after resigning as immigration minister in April 2004 for misleading the public over her knowledge of lax visa controls on East European immigrants.

Children's charities and organisations were quick to pay tribute to Mrs Hodge, who has held the post of children's minister since its creation in June 2003. She has been appointed work minister at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Daniela Reale, head of policy and campaigns at the Daycare Trust, described Mrs Hodge as 'a true childcare champion'. She said, 'Throughout her career she has been an important and enthusiastic advocate for good-quality, accessible and affordable childcare for all and has driven forward this agenda in England.'

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said that Mrs Hodge would be particularly remembered for her work on the ten-year childcare strategy.

Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, praised Mrs Hodge for a 'direct, no-nonsense style' widely welcomed in the childcare sector. Mr Alexander said, 'The implementation of the seminal document Every Child Matters and the ten-year strategy were Margaret Hodge's two pinnacles of success.

'However, the real work starts here. There are still many unanswered questions about the implementation of the strategy and the new minister must focus her attention on delivering it fully - as I am sure she will do.'

Beverley Hughes assumes her new role as children's minister with six years ministerial experience. Appointed environment minister in 1999, she joined the Home Office as a junior minister with responsibility for prisons and pensions in 2001.

The Daycare Trust said it looked forward to working with Ms Hughes to shape the childcare and early years agenda. Ms Reale said, 'This is a time of great change and momentum in the childcare sector and we are keen to ensure that these changes move us ever closer to services that are universally accessible, affordable and high quality.'

Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, said Mrs Hodge should be 'rightly proud' of her role in developing the ten-year childcare strategy and for 'doing so much for families'. She added, 'We also hope to continue to work with Margaret in her new capacity, in particular supporting how she addresses the needs of informal carers.'

Congratulating Beverley Hughes, Ms Haynes said she wanted to work with the minister on ensuring that by 2015 all childminders hold a level 3 qualification within five years of registration, on a childminding network in every community, and on developing a new childcare partner model to improve links between childminders and centre-based provision.

Margaret Hodge fact file

Born: 8 September 1944 in Egypt

Family: Married with three daughters and one son

Educated: London School of Economics

Previous occupation: Public sector consultant with PriceWaterhouse Cooper

1974: Councillor in the London Borough of Islington

1982-1992: Leader of Islington Council

1994: Appointed MP for Barking. Between 1994 and 1998 she held a range of offices, including joint chair of the education and employment select committee and chair of Labour's task force on under-fives policy

1998-2001: Junior minister at the Department for Education and Employment, with responsibility for childcare, nursery education, disabled people and equal opportunities in employment

2001-2003: Minister for lifelong learning and higher education

2003-2005: Minister for children

Present: Minister for work at the Department of Work and Pensions