Salmond has his eye on the ball
FIRST STRIKE: Alex Salmond put on a brave face when he tried to connect with voters in Rutherglen yesterday.
SNP ministers have been urged to publish information to back up its plans for extending free childcare after independence, with Labour accusing ministers of “writing policies on the back of a fag packet”.
Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale claimed independent experts had shown the flagship proposals to be “uncosted” and “ill-thought through”.
Her party will challenge the Scottish Government on its plans in an opposition debate at Holyrood today.
Ministers have previously argued that the powers of independence are needed to radically transform childcare provision in Scotland.
Children could receive 1,140 hours of care a year if there is a Yes vote in September’s referendum, with claims it would allow many parents to return to work.
A six per cent increase in women in the labour market could boost tax revenues by as much as £700 million, say the government.
While ministers hope to generate an extra £2.2 billion for the economy by expanding free childcare, the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) has said there is “no evidence” proposals would see more women return to work.
A £2.2bn boost to the economy would require 104,000 women to join the workforce, but there are only 64,000 women who are currently economically inactive, Spice research has claimed. Labour will today call on the government to publish all the information that the childcare plans in the independence white paper are based on “in the interests of transparency”.
First Minister Alex Salmond played football in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, ahead of meeting his cabinet at Fernhill Community Centre.