4. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its plans to increase access to childcare in the crèche beyond three hours per day. (S6O-03253)

After considerable engagement with the Care Inspectorate and our service provider,

My Ohana, we successfully achieved a variation to our registration in December last year. That increased the hours from four hours a week to three hours a day, which more than doubled the hours of childcare that can be provided. Alternatively, four hours can be taken in a single session if that is the only visit in a week.

Since then, we have considered further improving access to the crèche with outdoor space, so that children would have free-flowing access to an outdoor space. That might give us more flexibility with the Care Inspectorate.

However, to be clear, the Parliament was designed with a crèche; a nursery has very different requirements that our facilities cannot meet. We want to deliver the best facilities for children that we can, and we want to meet the most up-to-date guidance and criteria.

I record my immense thanks to the SPCB, the Care Inspectorate and the parliamentary authorities for pursuing the issue, and especially for getting, in such a timely manner, the change that Claire Baker has outlined. I know that a huge amount of work went into that, and I am enormously grateful.

I think that, since I previously asked the question, there have been two reports of MSPs having children this summer—other members might be able to correct me on that. They, too, will need childcare when it comes to their return to work. I am sure that the SPCB will agree that MSPs work more than three hours a day. It is therefore quite likely that there will continue to be demand for a facility that delivers what parents need in the Parliament, rather than a facility that is based on guidance that does not really meet need.

I appreciate Kate Forbes’s welcome for the work, which has improved our offer, that has been done by the corporate body and the Care Inspectorate.

We recognise that members have a particular challenge with childcare. They need care in Edinburgh and in their constituencies, and the crèche is a service that can offer some support. However, as I said, Parliament was designed to include a crèche for occasional use and, unfortunately, it is not possible to convert that facility into a nursery that would meet the Care Inspectorate’s requirements.

The Parliament is trying to be more family friendly. Our on-going investment in remote working for MSPs provides members with some flexibility in managing their caring responsibilities, and we are continuing to speak to the Scottish Government about the nursery at Victoria Quay. We recognise that late business can have an impact and that unpredictable hours can be difficult for parents and members with caring responsibilities, and we have made representations to the Parliamentary Bureau regarding that.