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Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 21 January 2016.

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Photo of Kezia Dugdale Kezia Dugdale Labour

Yesterday, the First Minister’s poverty adviser said that 56 per cent of children in poverty live in working households. Those are children whose mums and dads go out to work but still struggle to make ends meet. Naomi Eisenstadt says in her report that investment in quality, affordable early learning and childcare is crucial.

The First Minister claims that all three and four-year-olds have access to 16 hours of free early learning and childcare a week. That sounds good, but parents know that it is not true. Time and again, I meet mums who tell me that they cannot get for their child the place that they are told is their right. Last year, the First Minister said in the chamber that she was working with councils to deliver on her pledge, so will she tell us whether council funding to deliver the 16 hours of free early learning and childcare has gone up or down in the draft budget for next year?