Childcare Plans Under Scrutiny

A group of independent experts question the Scottish Government's childcare plans.

Plans to extend childcare and get more women back into work in an independent Scotland don't add up, that's according to a group of independent experts.

Scottish Ministers have pledged to provide vulnerble two year olds and three and four year olds with more than 1, 000 hours of care per year by 2020.

It's estimated the move would generate an additional £700 million in tax, but experts say there's no evidence to support this.

Labour will lead a debate at Holyrood later.

Kezia Dugdale MSP, said:

"We need a new approach to finding a way in which we can provide affordable quality childcare for all of Scotland's families. That means that parties need to work together to find a solution. Families deserve nothing less. They certainly deserve more than what's being cobbled together by the Scottish Government.

"The Scottish Government's flagship childcare proposals have been shown by independent experts to be uncosted, ill-though through and with no real consideration of how they will work.

"Writing policies on the back of a fag packet isn't how we should be approaching serious government in Scotland. But the SNP are only interested in grabbing headlines with their announcements. If they were serious about this policy, it would have been worked out, properly considered, with clear costings and analysis.

"Parents across Scotland are being offered a policy that the SNP know they can't deliver on. That is dishonest and it is wrong. Parents are facing incredible pressures with childcare costs while trying to juggle working and bringing up their children. They deserve so much better than simple gesture politics from the SNP."