Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Virtual) 23 July 2020
23 Jul 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Childcare
It sounded a little bit like the member was under water, but I hope that I will be able to respond.
The Audit Scotland report that was published in March confirmed that we were on track to deliver in August. We know that more than 50,000 children were already benefiting from more than 600 hours of childcare, so we were well on the way to delivering what was required for August. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to continue with the data collection that would have given us assurance on what stage different councils were at. Of course, as I explained in an earlier answer, councils have incurred extra costs and have diverted some of the money for the provision of 1,140 hours towards critical childcare. A period of assessment of readiness is required, council by council, before we can recommit to a universal statutory duty of providing 1,140 hours.
As well as Stirling Council and Angus Council, which are absolutely committed to providing 1,140 hours, a number of other local authorities are keen to deliver. For example, North Lanarkshire Council, which covers a large number of children, has made it clear that it should be able to deliver 1,140 hours in September, should we continue to make progress against the virus and should restrictions be lifted. Glasgow City Council, which is another large local authority that covers many children, is also near to delivering on the commitment.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Maree Todd, on childcare. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no int...
The Minister for Children and Young People (Maree Todd)
SNP
I am grateful for the Parliament’s time in making this statement today. Saturday was Mandela day, and I was reminded of his famous quote: “There can be no k...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for circulating her statement in advance. The new guidance on bubbles and blended care will be welcome news to many people watching thes...
Maree Todd
SNP
The decision about the delivery of 1,140 hours was not made out of choice. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic across many aspects of our lives have been an...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for providing early sight of her statement. Women at work face a perfect storm. There was a pre-existing gender employment gap, women a...
Maree Todd
SNP
I assure the member that we will bring in the 1,140 hours commitment for all as soon as we can. I hope that he understands that it is my wish to do that as m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Forgive me, but those were long answers. Twelve members want to ask questions and I have less than 12 minutes, so we need to move things along a little. In t...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
In her statement, the minister said that, on 30 July, the Government will publish guidance that will come into effect in August. She said that bubbles and ce...
Maree Todd
SNP
I understand why Alison Johnstone asked that question but, at this moment, I am unable to give clarity. I would love to be able to give clarity about what th...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
The decision by Scottish ministers to cancel childcare for key workers before children are due to return to school means that, for just one week, key workers...
Maree Todd
SNP
I am grateful for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to state again how grateful we are for the national effort to care for those children—wit...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I was pleased to hear the minister quote the wonderful Lullaby Lane nursery in my constituency. Does the minister consider that the £11.2 million transition...
Maree Todd
SNP
The Scottish Government is aware that, in order to give staff and parents confidence, the Scottish childcare sector has been working extremely hard to ensure...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The minister has confirmed that the commitment to provide 1,140 hours of childcare will be far from uniform across Scotland and—Inaudible.—very different lev...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I hope that the minister got all that.
Maree Todd
SNP
It sounded a little bit like the member was under water, but I hope that I will be able to respond. The Audit Scotland report that was published in March co...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Eight questioners are left, and the session is supposed to finish in four minutes’ time. I do not want them to miss out, so I ask for short questions and ans...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
I return to the important issue of blended placements. The minister will be aware that the current restrictions mean that some playgroups, such as Aberdour p...
Maree Todd
SNP
The Deputy First Minister confirmed last week—and I have reiterated today—that the latest expert guidance gives us confidence that we will be able to ease th...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Parents are receiving conflicting information about the resumption of breakfast and after-school club provision. Different schools are saying different thing...
Maree Todd
SNP
We are assessing the situation regularly. The current priority is to resume schooling. From what we know about coronavirus, the risk increases in accordance ...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Given the importance of ensuring safety within ELC settings and that children have a good early learning experience, can the minister confirm that the work t...
Maree Todd
SNP
I thank the member for his important question. We know that there will be challenges in returning to services after the turbulent break. In line with realisi...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
We know that councils have been paying for key worker childcare hubs from the original 1,140 hours budget. Will councils be reimbursed for that, to make sure...
Maree Todd
SNP
We are in the process of reassessing the readiness of councils to deliver 1,140 hours. As I have mentioned many times, we are looking at buildings, staffing ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
During the pandemic, many employers have been quite flexible and have allowed staff who are parents to work at home. Should we expect employers to continue t...
Maree Todd
SNP
Access to flexible working is highly important and benefits all workers. It is especially beneficial for workers with childcare responsibilities—particularly...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (Ind)
Ind
I have been contacted by constituents who operate businesses that provide music and movement classes for nought to five-year-olds. Those classes are not cove...
Maree Todd
SNP
I thank the member for raising that important issue. I would appreciate it if he could write to me with details of the businesses involved and of the challen...
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Has the minister been encouraged by the operation of those outdoor nurseries that opened earlier in the summer, and has their experience informed the reopeni...