Right, well, the section 7 powers confer functions on local authorities. They currently have functions under the pilot, so for example, under the current pilots they are assessing applications—quite complex, as they do it, one by one, each local authority. They have functions of supporting parents and making payments to providers—complex as that is. It will probably change in the future, but there will still be a need to confer functions on those local authorities, but they might be different, and we can already see what those might be.
So, for example, it could well be—it probably will be—continuing to advise parents, because one of the things that we've learned—. So, we could confer a function on an LA to—. And by the way, they're not opposing these. We're engaged with the local authorities all the time, and we consult with them and engage with them. Advising parents, we see as critical, because part of the roll-out is not simply providing the childcare offer, it's telling people how they easily access it, and so on—so, advising. Supporting childcare providers will be a key role for local authorities, both in terms of identifying where there are gaps, where there is duplication, where we need Welsh language provision, et cetera, et cetera. So, there'll be a role for local authorities in that.
And also critical to this, because we've already found this through the early implement authorities, is the need to expand the childcare provision on a sustainable basis, and this means physical premises but also the workforce around it, and into areas of Wales where there is currently not sufficient provision. By the way, there are other areas in the south Wales Valleys as there are in rural Ceredigion where there isn't sufficient childcare. So, local authorities will need and, I would say, would welcome the power that is within this to actually confer a function on a local authority, or functions on local authorities, to help deliver this childcare offer.