Motion · S6M-20786 · 11 Feb 2026
Improved Childcare Support for Parents
The motion
That the Parliament believes that providing childcare support to parents not only supports the family unit but also helps to grow Scotland’s economy by encouraging more parents back into the workforce; understands that families in Mid Scotland and Fife, and across the country, still struggle to find affordable, flexible and accessible childcare; praises the work of organisations such as Pregnant Then Screwed, which have campaigned to improve childcare provision across the UK; notes that its 2024 State of the Nation Survey concluded that around four in five parents (83.7%) found that childcare costs are the same as or more than their income, and that 71% of mothers and 50% of fathers say that it does not make financial sense for them to work; understands that its 2026 survey is due to conclude, with findings to be published in due course; further understands that the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare expansion programme evaluation strategy has assessed the impact of the expansion of provision covering the period 2018–25, and that it expects to publish its findings in early 2026, and notes the view that the Parliament should have the opportunity to scrutinise this important review before the end of the current parliamentary session.
Supporters (22)
- Miles Briggs Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 12 Feb 2026
- Murdo Fraser Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 12 Feb 2026
- Meghan Gallacher Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 12 Feb 2026
- Pam Gosal 12 Feb 2026
- Sandesh Gulhane 12 Feb 2026
- Douglas Ross 12 Feb 2026
- Annie Wells 12 Feb 2026
- Russell Findlay Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 13 Feb 2026
- Edward Mountain 13 Feb 2026
- Tess White 13 Feb 2026
- Martin Whitfield 16 Feb 2026
- Brian Whittle 16 Feb 2026
- Jamie Greene 17 Feb 2026
- Liam Kerr Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 17 Feb 2026
- Douglas Lumsden 17 Feb 2026
- Mercedes Villalba 17 Feb 2026
- Paul O'Kane 18 Feb 2026
- Paul Sweeney Scottish Labour 18 Feb 2026
- Tim Eagle Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 19 Feb 2026
- Alexander Burnett Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 23 Feb 2026
- Jamie Halcro Johnston 25 Feb 2026
- Sue Webber 11 Mar 2026
Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.