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The Scottish Government is working to increase the capacity and range of early learning and childcare. This includes the £6.8 million Early Years Early Action Fund to support third sector front-line delivery which has contributed £2.8 million towards childcare or play related services this year; the allocation of £4.5 million Families and Communities Fund to support local projects that bring real tangible benefits for children and families such as community playgroups, crèches, wrap around care provision, parents’ groups and wider family support; and, the allocation of £4.5 million from the early years Change Fund to provide early learning and childcare provision for looked after two year olds. We will identify with the Early Years Task Force how best to drive forward further provision for all vulnerable two year olds.

With regard to affordability, most support for childcare costs are provided through the benefits system. The Scottish Government supports the principle of a welfare benefits system that is simpler, makes work pay and lifts people out of poverty. However, changes to benefits, tax and employment support systems must work in harmony to help those who are capable of pulling themselves out of poverty through work.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04995 on 27 January 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

<>The Scottish Government has signed up to the UK Child Poverty Act which contains four measures of child poverty. Progress on these measures are reported on in the annual Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland publication at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/933/0116722.pdf.

The National Performance Framework also includes an indicator measuring child deprivation. Information on this can be accessed at http://scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicator/childdeprivation.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting everyone who wants to work to do so. Scotland currently has the highest rate of working households with children of any part the UK. The employment rate for lone parents in Scotland has also risen from 56.3% in 2007 to 56.8% in 2010.

Our Early Years Framework affirms that high quality, affordable and accessible early learning and childcare is key both for children’s development and to enable parents to balance work and family life. A number of organisations receive Scottish Government funding to provide a wide range of support, including benefit advice, to individuals and families. These include:

One Parents Families Scotland;

Parenting in Scotland;

Citizens Advice Direct;

Contact-a-Family, and

The Family Nurse Partnership.

Child poverty reflects the complex interaction of many factors and it is not possible to identify the impacts of specific changes. The Equality Statement Scottish Spending Review 2011 and the Draft Budget 2012-13 provides an overview of the impact of budget changes on those on low incomes.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/26110945/26.

Our spending review plans make clear our commitment to provide the necessary funding to maintain pupil teacher ratios.

<>The Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland sets out the our approach to tackling child poverty in Scotland. It is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/14094421/6.

Child poverty reflects the complex interaction of many factors and it is not possible to identify the impacts of specific changes. The Equality Statement Scottish Spending Review 2011 and the Draft Budget 2012-13 provides an overview of the impact of budget changes on those on low incomes.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/26110945/26.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has given her assurance to patients that quality will always come first. Changes will happen only if boards can demonstrate - in partnership with staff - that they flow from service redesigns that do not compromise quality.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04985 on 26 January 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

All NHS boards providing direct patient care services have received real term annual increases in funding of 2.9% in 2012-13, 3.3% in 2013-14 and 3.1% in 2014-15, a total of £720 million, reflecting our commitment to direct resources to protect point of care healthcare services.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03883 on 22 November 2011 by John Swinney. This confirms that the Warm Homes Fund is a new fund, commencing in 2012-13 and has increased funding year-on-year over the spending review period. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.