Humza Yousaf to announce ‘package’ of childcare measures in first Programme for Government

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Humza Yousaf will use his first Programme for Government to announce a “package” of childcare measures.It is understood the reforms will be targeted at those most in need.The announcement will come as the First Minister sets out his Government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year on Tuesday.Speaking ahead of the speech in Holyrood, Yousaf said the announcement would help tackle poverty and boost the economy by bringing people back into the workforce.The announcement, he said, would include support for breakfast and after school clubs, potential further expansion of free childcare and support for staff:“We’re looking at areas around what we can do in relation to the pathfinder projects that we have that help provide that all year round, school age child care from breakfast clubs to after school clubs,” he said.“We’ll be looking at what we can do in relation to further expansion to two-year-olds and what more can be done in supporting staff in the PVI sector in particular.”He added: “There’ll be a whole package announced, and of course it will be fully funded by the Government.”But the First Minister – who has previously been chastised by after details of Government announcements were released to the press before being made in parliament – was reticent about other parts of the Programme for Government.However, he did commit to take action to protect people living in the private rented sector.Speaking to LBC, Yousaf was asked about loopholes in the Government’s rent freeze which allows prices to rise between tenancies at a much higher rate than the maximum of six per cent currently allowed by the legislation.“Yes, there will be some detail around what we can do to protect those in the private rented sector,”