Opinion: Editor's view - What are the implications in Tory party thinking?

In some ways, the language of the report by the Centre for Social Justice is surprising, with its stress on nurture, relationships and attachment (see News, page 3). The involvement of some respected child development experts in the ten-month commission comes through to provide a contrast with the usually dry policy-speak of most such reports.

However, the recommendations are rather more in the expected Conservative mould. The spectre of deregulation looms, with the suggestion that parents should be able to claim tax credits to pay unregistered close relatives. Who would count as close? How would children be safeguarded? Duncan Smith wrote in one newspaper that research proved that informal care from relatives followed that from motivated parents as an 'excellent childcare source'. In fact, some studies have shown the opposite - that developmental outcomes can be worse in such circumstances.

The report also says childcare should be located outside children's centres to 'free them up to concentrate on delivering family support services and create a more level playing field for private, voluntary and independent nurseries'.

Childcare is certainly proving expensive for children's centres to deliver, and some PVI settings may welcome a diminution of competition in their areas. However, if the state takes no role in providing childcare, and the emphasis moves to deregulation, it will be hard to drive up standards. And more deprived areas are unlikely to be able to sustain enough PVI childcare settings to help parents.