General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 12 December 2024.
Willie Rennie
Liberal Democrat
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that both of the privately run nurseries in the east neuk, in the North East Fife Constituency, will close by the end of 2024. (S6O-04112)
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise (Natalie Don-Innes):
I know from engagement with the sector that many providers are facing cost and workforce pressures, and the United Kingdom Government’s changes to employer national insurance contributions are only going to add to that.
I continue to prioritise efforts to support providers in Scotland and, provided that we have support from parties across the chamber for the budget, we will give an additional £9.7 million to councils to enable workers in private and third sector services that deliver funded early learning and childcare to continue to be paid at least the real living wage, meaning that Scotland will be the only part of the United Kingdom to do so.
We are also continuing our work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to strengthen the sustainable rates-setting process.
Willie Rennie
Liberal Democrat
That sustainable rates-setting process is important. Closing the funding gap between council and private nurseries is part of the reason why those two nurseries are in difficulty. Will the Minister update us on how quickly that gap will be closed?
Natalie Don-Innes:
I am happy to provide an update on that. Jointly with COSLA, we have established a sustainable rates review implementation working group that brings together sector and local government representatives to inform delivery of the sustainable rates review actions. A key recommendation of that review was the need to improve the cost data that is available to inform rates setting. I am pleased to update Mr Rennie that the Scottish Government has just completed the commissioning of a new national cost collection exercise, which will take place in spring next year.
Together with COSLA, we also hosted six provider reference groups during October and November, and we have had really good involvement from across the sector to inform that cost collection exercise.
I have some other things to update Mr Rennie on, and I would be happy to do that later, as I believe that I need to keep my answer short.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes general questions.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
