The scheme, due to be introduced later this year, will provide vouchers worth up to 50 a week per family per week. It aims to give parents the flexibility to choose the most appropriate form of childcare provision and location for their needs.
The scheme was agreed by the cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Its chairman Sir David Steel said the Parliament sought to follow best employment practice wherever possible. 'This helps ensure that we can recruit high-calibre staff and retain them when personal circumstances change, such as having children.'
However, a spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland said that many employees did not enjoy such perks. 'In the current economic climate some firms are finding it hard to maintain employee levels as they are,' he said. 'They wish to offer these benefits, but can't afford it. Perhaps Scottish politicians should make their case at Westminster that there should be more tax benefits to encourage companies to provide help with childcare.'
The vouchers are a taxable benefit and can be claimed for all children up to the age of 16, with a maximum value of 10 a week for school-age children. The measure will cost the Parliament around 200,000 a year.
Welcoming the move, a spokeswoman for the children's organisation Children in Scotland said, 'The Parliament carried out a great deal of research before deciding that issuing vouchers was the best way to assist its employees, and MSPs, with childcare. But right from the start, with initiatives such as arranging sessions to coincide with school terms, the Parliament has shown itself to be aiming for a good work/life balance for those who work there.'
* See special report, p10
