FMQs: Greens call for Scottish Government to end funded childcare postcode lottery
The Scottish Greens are calling on the Scottish Government to end the postcode lottery families face, and provide properly funded childcare for every child in Scotland.
Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay raised concerns for children and families who are not being offered the funded childcare they are entitled to and were promised.
West Lothian Council this week voted to withdraw funded childcare from children who live outside the council area, following a similar cut by Edinburgh City Council last year, leaving families who live on the border or travel for work facing a huge bill. This is despite a national commitment to offer funded childcare to all 3 and 4 year olds in Scotland.
Last weekend, Gillian announced at the Scottish Greens conference that her party will pledge to introduce funded childcare from an earlier age - with 570 hours from 6 months old and 1140 hours from the age of two for all children across Scotland.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:
“High quality, affordable childcare should not be a luxury in Scotland.
“But the current system is not delivering. This week, West Lothian Council voted to cut all funding for cross-boundary placements, meaning parents where I live in Falkirk who are using private nurseries in Linlithgow are set to be hit with a huge, unexpected bill.
“Children who have applied for places will be denied them from the 1st April, and will now have to find alternative childcare at terrifyingly short notice.
“And children halfway through their current placement will be forced to move in August.
“This is an unacceptable level of disruption for young children and families, who were promised funded childcare.
“Will the First Minister intervene and help the families who will be impacted by this, and will his Government provide an urgent solution to councils cutting funding for cross boundary childcare?”
The First Minister responded saying the Government is limited in what they can do as councils are self-governing, but he highlighted that the Labour-run West Lothian Council are not following the guidance set out that states the same funded childcare provision should be given for both local and cross-boundary places.
In her second question to the First Minister, Gillian said:
“The Scottish Greens want to deliver free places for every child in Scotland from six months up. But the Scottish government is not even delivering the current commitment on funded childcare once a child turns three, an issue we raised with the First Minister ahead of this year’s budget.
“Thanks to Scottish Green councillors, Glasgow is now the only local authority left that offers funded childcare to all children starting the week after a child turns three, with many other families having to pay thousands of pounds out of their own pocket whilst they wait for the start of the next school term.
“This Scottish Government promised free childcare at three, but they have not funded it, and have left cash strapped councils to try and plug the gap. When will the First Minister make good on his party’s promise, and make sure childcare in Scotland is really free at three?”