by Bill Heaney
Marie McNair, the SNP candidate for Clydebank and Milngavie, asked the Government on Thursday for an assurance that they were providing affordable childcare in the constituency next door to Dumbarton.
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes, told the former West Dunbartonshire councillor: “Families in Clydebank and Milngavie, like those throughout Scotland, benefit from our investment of £1 billion annually in the provision of 1,140 hours of high-quality early learning and childcare.
“The evaluation of that policy that was published last week shows that it is helping parents, particularly women, into work, training or study, enabling them to make choices that support families and helping families to meet the cost of living challenge. If families paid for that offer, it would cost more than £6,000 annually.
“We are also expanding school-age childcare, delivering breakfast clubs for all children in primary school and extending the extra time programme to help more families impacted by poverty.”
Marie McNair told the chamber: “I am proud of the policies that the Scottish National Party Government has introduced, which make childcare more accessible.
HSCP staff awards 2019 PIC SHOWS Beth Culshaw with Marie McNair and Kerry Begg
Clydebank MSP Marie McNair and Minister Natalie Don-Innes.
“We know that wraparound childcare is essential to ensuring that parents can find and retain employment, and that the impact of that policy is keeping children out of poverty.
“Will the minister set out the Government’s continued commitment to childcare providers across Scotland in recognition that they are key stakeholders in the delivery of our childcare strategy?”
Natalie Don-Innes told her: “I absolutely recognise the fundamental importance of childcare providers as the cornerstone of the childcare system in Scotland. I am glad that Marie McNair asked that question, as it allows me to put that on record one last time.
“I have welcomed the opportunity to visit a wide range of settings during my time in office, seeing our support and funding in action and witnessing the passion, dedication and skill of our childcare professionals, who seek every day to get it right for every child.
“As the next Government considers its priorities for childcare, I urge it to continue to put childcare providers’ voices at the heart of those discussions.”
ARTWORK BY JANE HEANEY
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