Greene brings childcare debate to parliament

Speaking ahead of his members’ business debate on childcare, Scottish Liberal Democrat West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene said that many parents feel “unfairly treated” because of the gaps in funded places under the SNP.

On Tuesday, Jamie Greene will bring a members’ debate to the Scottish Parliament on the importance of funded childcare in helping parents return to work and giving children the best start in life.

While funded childcare is available to every child in Scotland after they turn three, the Scottish Government do not guarantee that it will be delivered on the day after the child’s third birthday. As a result, funded places can be delayed until the start of the school term following a child’s birthday.

In practice, this means some parents are missing out on months of free childcare, simply because of where they live and where their child’s birthday falls in the year.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for ministers to end this postcode lottery by guaranteeing national funding so that every child in Scotland is entitled to a funded nursery place from the day of their third birthday.

Commenting ahead of the debate, Jamie Greene said:

"Having kids is an expensive business and it is not made any easier by the current postcode lottery that parents are facing under the SNP.

"It means some families could be denied months of funded childcare, simply because of where they live and when their child’s birthday falls in the year.

“That seems desperately unfair to working families who are doing all they can to make ends meet.

“In a modern, 21st century Scotland, parents should have the full support of the government in balancing their careers with having children. That’s why my party want an expansion of publicly funded childcare, giving every child the best start in life and helping parents get back to work. This should be backed up by increased support for private, voluntary and independent nurseries, preventing a loss of staff from the sector and giving parents more choice when accessing care.”