http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8277378.stm

God protect us from bureaucracy gone mad............

So looking after a friends kids on a swap basis so you and partner can have a night out once a month .........

When I was little, the girl over the road used to babysit me. I imagine it's a common arrangement, and it was often for more than 2 hours.

I have to confess though; I still fantasise about being "abused" by her. She was damned hot! Unfortunately, all she ever did was raid the fridge and watch TV

I think this is so ridiculous I signed the petition mentioned in the article.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/reciprocalcc

God they want to regulate and control everything.
I won't be long until they make me fill in paper work to take a 5hit.

This is just frikkin ridiculous. Not everyone has 'close relatives' nearby or suitable to look after the child(s), so friends are the next best thing. I suspect those backing the law either have no children or have done something similar in the past.

This is one of those laws I'd ban outright if I came to power.

What a great idea. It will stop skiving at work!

/sarcasm

Well I signed it.

I have thought that this could have some serious repercussions that the government have not even considered. With no one to baby-sit either the restaurant and entertainment trades will suffer significantly, or they will have to offer a crèche for parents to leave their kids in while they eat, watch the film or show.

It could end sleep overs for kids. "Sorry kids Johnny cannot come over because the nasty government say mummy and I have to pay to have a criminal records check before they can stay overnight"

It has the other effect that no one will take other kids on the school run because of the same problem. That could mean even greater congestion and pollution.

Signed.

The age of bureaucracy and Health and Safety brought the end of human evolution.

We will stagnate as a species because of stupid people who can't think for themselves, and because of the people who uphold laws with a completely blinkered view even when they don't make sense, are outdated or have been made by corrupt politicians.

/Socialist-rant-over.

(And i'm a tory-boy!)

signed

I vote for a DoS attack.

Everyone in the country should sign up as a child minder and force OFSTED to check every single house in the country.

I think the sheer volume would stop them from working properly and perhaps common sense will get through!

Well that might sound like a good idea, there are some drawbacks. The £65 fee to start with. Then who is to say that OFSTED will ask the local council to send someone, who also does a property revaluation at the same time and a few months later you find your council tax going up because they have been in to your home and have been able to up rate it to a higher band.

My Mum mentioned this story to me earlier. I just cannot believe how bad things have got in this country.

I have to laugh at the Labour Party now. They are still talking as though they have a chance. To be honest, I've voted Labour for years, but I won't be next time.

It has nothing to do with Gordon himself, nothing to do with the financial crisis and it's not because I think that the Conservatives are lovely. It's just because Labour have got their feet well and truly under the table and they think that we'll put up with anything. If they get in again, they'll believe that they can charge us for breathing and check us out in order that we can walk past a school.

Well I think that we're going to the dogs and it's time to give someone else the keys to the country.

As soon as I've posted this, I'll sign. (if I can; I don't live in England.)

In this case at least, the law is an ass.the people who are really running a child minding business should be regulated, but not this sort of thing.