Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-10131, in the name of Kezia Dugdale, on Scotland’s future. Time is extremely tight this afternoon, so the...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. When the white paper was published in November, I was as surprised as the next person to see that childcare was front and cent...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell) SNP

The Government has a significant and positive track record of achievement when it comes to childcare, so I welcome any opportunity to talk about the issue, a...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order. Let us hear the minister.

Aileen Campbell SNP

Achieving all that will be one of the major gains of independence. The experts agree with that premise. Interruption. Labour members may laugh, but if they ...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the member give way?

Aileen Campbell SNP

On the point about negativity, I give way to Neil Bibby.

Neil Bibby Lab

The minister has talked a lot about the childcare policy in the white paper. What will the total cost of the policy be, and how will it be paid for?

Aileen Campbell SNP

I always listen to the cabinet secretary, who has just said, “Independence is the answer.” That is exactly right. Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Aileen Campbell SNP

We have outlined the first phases of our childcare proposals. I am proud to stand by them. I will talk more about the costings and the attacks that Labour ha...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Mr Bibby, will you stop shouting at the minister across the chamber?

Aileen Campbell SNP

Given the progress that we have made on childcare, and our ambitions to do even more, we will absolutely reject Kezia Dugdale’s motion this evening. Membe...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The member is in her last minute.

Aileen Campbell SNP

I did not realise that the fag packet to which Kezia Dugdale referred this morning was about her own party’s policies. My goodness! Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

The member is in her last minute, Ms Dugdale.

Aileen Campbell SNP

I totally subscribe to Labour’s call to work together, but I say that with a feeling of déjà vu; I totally subscribed to that call when Labour leader Johann ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

You should draw to a close, please.

Aileen Campbell SNP

In response to Labour’s calls today and echoing what I said one year ago, that is exactly why I work alongside Malcolm Chisholm and Willie Rennie on our task...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

No, no furthermores, thank you. You should draw to a close.

Aileen Campbell SNP

We should also welcome the cross-party approach to childcare in Scotland. We will work together with others who want to. However, I regret that Labour’s con...

Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD) LD

I am pleased to have the opportunity today to discuss childcare once again. Members across the chamber will know the Liberal Democrats’ ambition for nursery ...

Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

Will Willie Rennie take an intervention?

Willie Rennie LD

No. I know that the minister will say that there is detail, but one “illustrative example” is not sufficient. We cannot trust the Government’s analysis beca...

Mike MacKenzie SNP

Will Willie Rennie take an intervention?

Willie Rennie LD

I am not going to take an intervention. Thanks to research that has been done by SPICe, we know that a 6 per cent rise in the female workforce is equivalent...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Draw to a close, please.

Willie Rennie LD

We should do everything that we can to ensure that every child in Scotland benefits from education.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Mary Scanlon has up to six minutes. We are very tight for time today. 15:41

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

It was a bit rich for the minister to tell the Labour Party to listen and learn when the Government is debating its white paper flagship policy today with a ...