Clare Haughey MSP has welcomed the First Minister’s announcement that childcare spending will double to £840 million a year – signalling a huge expansion in free early learning and childcare provision across Scotland.

The move reaffirms the Scottish Government’s ambition in ‘making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up’, and is part of efforts to nearly double free childcare entitlement to 1140 hours from August 2020 – and it is expected to save parents around £350 per child, per month.

The Scottish Government has also taken action by supplying the baby box to all expectant parents in Scotland – as well as providing 100% business rates relief for all nursery premises.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“This expansion of childcare and early learning will help transform young people’s lives in Rutherglen.

“We know that some parents continue to struggle with childcare costs to allow them to work – and this expansion will change that.

“Delivering 30 hours a week of free childcare for every three and four-year-old in Scotland, as well as eligible two-year-olds will give children the very best start in life and play a vital role in our efforts to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.

“The fact that this announcement comes hot on the heels of the recently launched Scottish baby box and the decision to remove nursery premises from business rates altogether proves the Scottish Government’s commitment to our young people in my Rutherglen constituency.

“The move will help parents back into work, as well as saving them around £350 per child, per month, on childcare costs. This doubling of our investment, from £420 million to £840 million every year by 2021-22 is exactly the kind of support and progressive action that the Scottish Government continues to deliver for Scotland.”

ENDS

Notes:

Scottish Government press release on the expansion of childcare: https://news.gov.scot/news/childcare-spending-to-double-to-gbp-840-million-a-year

Scottish Government’s early years’ ambition is: “To make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up for all babies, children, mothers, fathers and families.” See: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/Young-People/early-years