Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 February 2018
28 Feb 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Early Years and Childcare
There is a huge body of evidence from around the world on how delivering such provision closes the attainment gap. Is Liz Smith suggesting that we wait longer before we have the expansion? I know that the Conservative Party does not support the expansion, but we do, and we are going to do it.
We must never forget that the fundamental purpose of the policy is to improve our children’s early years experience. However, the policy will also support parents and help to lift families out of poverty. By increasing the number of funded hours of childcare, we will support parents to work, train and study, unlike the offering down in England, which is for working parents only.
The full entitlement to 1,140 hours will save families more than £4,500 per child per year and remove the burden of massive childcare costs. The near doubling of funded entitlement offers parents greater flexibility of provision. Flexibility should be determined by local authorities engaging with their communities to understand and respond to their needs within a framework of high-quality provision.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-10650, in the name of Michelle Ballantyne, on early years and childcare. 14:47
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to have the opportunity to bring the motion to the chamber. Early learning and childcare is one of the most important areas for any Government, ...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
If Michelle Ballantyne is seriously concerned about funding, will she say how her party would have funded the policy, given that there is going to be another...
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
If Stuart McMillan had taken the time to read what our manifesto says about our approach, he would have found that we would not have gone about things in the...
The Minister for Childcare and Early Years (Maree Todd)
SNP
I can absolutely understand why the member is concerned, because in England, where the Tories are in charge, the NDNA has said about the expansion process: ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That is a good point, but it was a long intervention, so I will give you the time back, Ms Ballantyne.
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
I have two points to make in response to that. If the minister, having read about the issue, feels that there are real issues south of the border, that shoul...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Maree Todd to speak to and move amendment S5M-10650.3. 15:02
The Minister for Childcare and Early Years (Maree Todd)
SNP
The expansion of funded early learning and childcare will transform our children’s life chances. By 2020, we will provide all three and four-year-olds and el...
Michelle Ballantyne
Con
Can the minister tell me how, and on the basis of what evidence, the Government is on track to deliver?
Maree Todd
SNP
Audit Scotland has looked at the process at a point when there is still some distance between our figures and local authority figures. It is right and proper...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
No members deny that there are a lot of good things in the report, particularly on the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives. However, the Scottish Gove...
Maree Todd
SNP
There is a huge body of evidence from around the world on how delivering such provision closes the attainment gap. Is Liz Smith suggesting that we wait longe...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
The feedback that I have been getting from parents is that childcare provision is inflexible. Does the minister agree that that inflexibility is preventing w...
Maree Todd
SNP
The issue is that the number of hours is limited to 600, which is precisely why we are expanding the number to 1,140 hours. We are committed to fully fundin...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
The minister made a point about the eligibility of two-year-olds. A quarter of two-year-olds are eligible for free childcare but, according to the Audit Scot...
Maree Todd
SNP
There are a number of challenges involved in identifying the eligible two-year-olds and targeting the offering to their families. We are working with local a...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Maree Todd
SNP
I am afraid that I am in my final minute. We estimate that the combined effect of that investment will have supported more than 2,000 additional practitione...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am currently giving speakers time back if they take interventions, but I warn members that there are only a few minutes left to spare. I am sorry to say th...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I expect to get the time back from your intervention—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Now, now. Never challenge or have a go at the chair.
Iain Gray
Lab
There is a certain irony in our having this debate on a day when the childcare arrangements of families across most of Scotland have collapsed under the weig...
John Swinney
SNP
I am interested in what Mr Gray thinks the Government should have done in identifying the purpose of the measure as being either to improve outcomes for chil...
Iain Gray
Lab
My judgment is that both are important, as I think that Mr Swinney agrees, but primarily this is about improved educational outcomes for children and address...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must conclude.
Iain Gray
Lab
The Government should listen—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No. Please conclude, Mr Gray—I am moving on.
Iain Gray
Lab
The Government should listen and take urgent action.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You were given an extra minute and the clock did not start, in fact, until you stood up to speak, so I was quite generous. Oliver Mundell is next, to be foll...