Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2026 [Draft]
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20786, in the name of Roz McCall, on improved childcare support for parents. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak button. I remind members that we will resume business at 2 pm and that we must allow sufficient time for staff to come and clear the chamber. Therefore, I expect members to stick to the speaking time that they have signed up to.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament believes that providing childcare support to parents not only supports the family unit but also helps to grow Scotland’s economy by encouraging more parents back into the workforce; understands that families in Mid Scotland and Fife, and across the country, still struggle to find affordable, flexible and accessible childcare; praises the work of organisations such as Pregnant Then Screwed, which have campaigned to improve childcare provision across the UK; notes that its 2024 State of the Nation Survey concluded that around four in five parents (83.7%) found that childcare costs are the same as or more than their income, and that 71% of mothers and 50% of fathers say that it does not make financial sense for them to work; understands that its 2026 survey is due to conclude, with findings to be published in due course; further understands that the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare expansion programme evaluation strategy has assessed the impact of the expansion of provision covering the period 2018–25, and that it expects to publish its findings in early 2026, and notes the view that the Parliament should have the opportunity to scrutinise this important review before the end of the current parliamentary session.
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.