Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2016
I thank Cara Hilton for bringing this important debate to the chamber tonight. I also thank her for some of her comments on how we progress the issues and work together in order to deliver for the families throughout Scotland.
As far as I am concerned, we are coming from a place where the Scottish Government has an ambitious programme to give children the best start in life. As Cara Hilton mentioned, the amount of free childcare for three and four-year-olds has been raised from 415 to 475 hours and now to 600 hours. That will make a difference. In addition, vulnerable two-year-olds will get that free childcare, too.
The Scottish Government is delivering for our families, who all receive the same provision. Our plans are ambitious. The First Minister recently went on record to say that she sees the biggest capital spend and investment in the future being on childcare. That may not be easy to show like a big, shiny new bridge or a road infrastructure project, but such investment makes a big difference to families throughout our nation.
On top of that, if the Scottish National Party forms the next Government, it wants to increase the free provision up to 1,140 hours before the end of the next parliamentary session. I mentioned capital spend. We are talking about investment £170 million-worth. That would make a difference.
I also have a personal interest in this issue. I know that I look too young, but I am a grandparent. My daughter, Jessica, is going back to education. She is looking at care for her daughter, Daisy, to ensure that she can do that. Daisy is coming up to one and a half, but eventually—when she is two or three—Jessica will get that opportunity. Therefore, I understand on a practical level how difficult it can be for families, but the Government is doing what it can to ensure that free childcare will make a difference in local areas.
Cara Hilton brought up some figures on the costs of childcare. It is just not the case that the average weekly cost of 24 hours of nursery childcare in Scotland is more than it is in England. In England, the cost is £113; in Scotland, the cost is £104. That is an example of where childcare in Scotland is cheaper. For 50 hours childcare a week, the regional average cost in England is £221; in Scotland, that cost is £203. Although the costs are quite a bit for families to deal with, the situation is not as bad as others have said that it is.
I see the Government’s planned investment as the exciting part of the debate. To declare even more of an interest in this topic, my daughter plans to train as a nursery nurse. Part of the Government’s investment is about ensuring that young women such as her, as well as young men, have the opportunity to get involved in the sector.
We have to remember that that is part of the debate—we must build the infrastructure to the stage that we can ensure that we deliver for all families in Scotland. At this stage, we have the Scottish Government commitment and there is upwards movement in the hours of childcare provided. The only issue is to see how we take provision to the next stage and ensure that we deliver for all the young people and families.
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