Johann Lamont, leader of Scottish Labour, has announced new plans to increase financial support for childcare in Scotland.
Modelled on policy in Finland, Lamont said that Scottish Labour would look into making it so that people with children only had to pay the first 10% of childcare costs (in line with the average income) – and the state would pay the rest.
This could mean, for example, that childcare costs paid by individuals or families would be capped at £2,670 annually (that’s 10% of the average wage, which is £26,700 a year). The state would cover the remaining costs. Lamont said that Scottish Labour would think about using the extra powers that are to be devolved to Scottish Parliament following the Scottish referendum to pay for this policy. This could including increasing income tax.
In this same speech, Lamont said that Scottish Labour would also provide free childcare for mothers who wanted to return to college to get training.
Lamont explained the reason for this policy proposal:
“Earlier this year, my education spokesman, Kezia Dugdale, visited Finland where the total costs any family spends on childcare is no more than 10 per cent of the median income of the people in the country. She saw first-hand the opportunities it gave to their children.
“I want the same for families in Scotland. So let us set a goal of capping childcare costs at no more than 10 per cent of median income in Scotland.”
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