Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a Conservative Party debate on motion S5M-21177, in the name of Jamie Greene, on the expansion of funded childcare. 14:42

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

From August this year, universal funded early learning and childcare for three, four and vulnerable two-year-olds will increase from 600 to 1,140 hours per c...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Maree Todd) SNP

In September last year, 50,000 children across Scotland were already benefiting from additional high-quality early learning and childcare—high-quality learni...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

Does the minister consider that “steady progress” is enough, given that only 40 per cent of the relevant children are receiving the increased hours, which me...

Maree Todd SNP

As I will go on to explain during the debate, I am absolutely confident that we will deliver in August 2020, and I will give my reasoning for that. The repo...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

The minister will be aware that the Peedie Breeks nursery in Orkney is scheduled to close in July. What consultation has she had with the local council about...

Maree Todd SNP

From my communication with the local authority, I understand that it is confident that places are available in the system already, despite the fact that that...

Jamie Greene Con

Saying that councils have robust contingency plans is one thing, but what are they? Where are the places? Where are the children actually going to go?

Maree Todd SNP

As Jamie Greene will be aware, members are perfectly at liberty to explore the robust contingency plans with the local authorities in their areas. I have bee...

Jamie Greene Con

What are they?

Maree Todd SNP

Why does the member not ask his local authority? Why does he not work with his local authority, just as I am doing? I turn to the workforce. It bears repeat...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

In March 2018, I asked the minister whether she would guarantee that local authorities would not be short of staff. She said: “I will absolutely give a guar...

Maree Todd SNP

Yes—I guarantee that we will not find ourselves short of staff by August 2020. I know that there are concerns about movement of staff from private and third...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

What does the minister have to say to the childminding sector, which is already expressing grave concerns about the delay in issuing guidance and where the s...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I can give you more time to cover the interventions, minister.

Maree Todd SNP

Thank you. We will come on to the issue of childminders, but I note that childminders are expected to more than double the proportion of ELC that they provi...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to open the debate for Scottish Labour. We have long supported the ambitions behind the early learning and childcare expansion to 1...

Jamie Greene Con

The Conservatives will support the Labour amendment, which makes a very valid point. The reality is that funded providers in the private sector are strugglin...

Mary Fee Lab

I am grateful to Jamie Greene for his intervention. It is obvious that funders and providers need to be able to pay their staff the living wage and that they...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

I am grateful to the Scottish Conservatives for using their business time to enable us to debate progress in the expansion of funded childcare. If we delive...

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I thank Jamie Greene for giving Parliament the opportunity to debate the Government’s progress in expanding early learning and childcare. The expansion is an...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. Can I have speeches of up to six minutes, please? I can allow a little time for interventions. 15:23

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to debate the policy, because it is one of the most important in our most recent manifesto. The expansion to 1,140 hours of childca...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the minister take an intervention?

Clare Adamson SNP

I am a member. Laughter.

Brian Whittle Con

I am sorry; it is not up to me to promote Clare Adamson. In a previous debate, you raised concerns about the sector in your constituency. Are you now comfor...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Can members always speak through the chair, please?

Brian Whittle Con

I apologise.

Clare Adamson SNP

I believe that every member in the chamber is absolutely focused on delivering the best for our young people. Doing so involves scrutiny and taking on board ...

Mary Fee Lab

Will the member give way?