Alex Salmond accused of letting families down

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of “letting down” families and children by failing to bring in a pledge on free childcare sooner.

Labour leader Johann Lamont said working parents needed action now to help them cope with costs.

She hit out after Alex Salmond pledged the Scottish Government would introduce a legal guarantee of more than 600 hours of free nursery education for every three and four-year-old, as well as for two-year-olds who are in care.

The First Minister, who made the announcement to the SNP spring conference at the weekend, hailed that as the best package of free nursery education in the UK.

But Ms Lamont said families would need to wait until after the independence referendum to feel the benefits.

She told Mr Salmond: “What families need is action now, not a clause in a Children’s Bill, and not a two-year delay.”

She went on: “Families don’t need legislation in the future, they need a Government now which will provide the funding to deliver reliable and affordable childcare when people need it.”