Witney MP David Cameron has challenged the Government to cut the red tape faced by pre-school and nursery classes.

Mr Cameron secured a special House of Commons debate to raise the issue.

He told fellow MPs: "During a recent visit to Blackditch Bunnies pre-school, in Stanton Harcourt, supervisor Sue Harrison gave me an excellent presentation about the massive regulatory burdens that pre-schools now face.

"I visited a number of other pre-schools and I have spent a lot of time listening to supervisors and teachers.

"They've all said the same thing. They're in danger of being regulated out of existence and are spending more time with paper than with the children.

"We're fortunate to have such a wide range of provision and I'm concerned about the pressures they are under."

Government minister Maria Eagle said: "The regulatory processes are there to ensure quality and safety so there must be a proper balance between the amount of paperwork required and its purposes.

"If we get the balance right I hope no-one will complain about having to do some paperwork. It's not the Government's intention that excessive paperwork should drive people out of the business of looking after children or providing pre-school care."