Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 73, 2^nd July 2001

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

Parliament  is in recess.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

£24 MILLION CHILDCARE PACKAGE FOR LONE PARENT FAMILIES

The Scottish Parliament has announced a £24 million package of initiatives to encourage lone parents into Scotland’s universities and colleges. The scheme will make it easier for lone parents to meet the childcare costs which can discourage many from continuing education.

The key elements of the three-year scheme, which will increase childcare aid to between 6,500 and 8,500 lone parent full and part time students in Scotland from August this year, are:

• New £1000 childcare grants for lone parents in full-time higher education to pay for formal childcare – a first ever childcare grant for students in higher education in Scotland. The total value of the cash announced today for higher education students will be £8.5 million over the next three years - with 3,500 lone parents expected to benefit.
• £7.5 million for Further Education colleges throughout Scotland to widen childcare provision to meet locally-identified needs. This should help between 3,000 and 5,000 full and part-time students and ensure that further education is genuinely accessible to all.
• £8 million to enable local authorities to increase their support for out-of-school clubs in disadvantaged areas. The cash will help sustain club places for up to 4,000 children.

A leaflet explaining the new grant and other financial assistance for lone parent students will be distributed to educational establishments and voluntary organisations throughout Scotland.

Jackie Baillie, Minister of Social Justice, said: "Ending child poverty is one of our key goals and this package is the gateway to healthier and happier lives for some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities.

"These measures offer lone parents their best ever chance to progress to further and higher education. That should lead to better job opportunities, better incomes and a better way of life for their children."

Full Story

MacKAY ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR FREE PERSONAL CARE AND INCREASED SPENDING ON HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Scottish Finance Minister, Angus MacKay, has announced funding for free personal care and increased spending on major priorities such as health and education.

Addressing Parliament, the Minister announced £200 million of new money and the realignment of a further £289 million to finance Scottish Executive priorities. Cabinet level scrutiny of all Departmental budgets has shown flexibility and scope for change within the overall Scottish budget total of nearly £20 Billion.

Mr MacKay said:

"We have looked beyond the £200 million from the recent UK budget announcement and identified a total of £489 million which could be allocated to fund our policies.

"Today's announcement demonstrates a mature approach to finance and governance, applying rigour that brings rewards.

"This money has gone well beyond simply delivering free personal care, allocating over £432 million to our main priorities of education and health. Almost £30m is for Justice to tackle drugs and crime.

"Over £20m is for Further and Higher Education, sport and culture, transport and support for our creative industries. Finally, I have allocated a further £10 million for post Foot and Mouth disease recovery in tourism and agriculture."

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Parliament is in recess.

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