Chamber and committees

Governments of an independent Scotland will be able to use a full range of powers to deliver policies that help people into work and protect the vulnerable.

On independence, the entitlements to benefits, credits, vouchers and reliefs that apply in the UK will continue to apply in Scotland, with such benefits continuing to be paid in exactly the same way as they are now. However, future Scottish governments can choose to do things differently from the rest of the UK. For example, this government will stop the damaging changes to our welfare system being introduced by Westminster, including scrapping the “bedroom tax” and halting the roll out of universal credit.

The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for economic inactivity rates for small cohorts of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.

The rate of economically inactive mothers by number of children is shown in Table 1 and the rate of economically inactive mothers by age of youngest dependent child in Table 2.

Table 1: Economic inactivity rates¹ for mothers by number of dependent² children

Source: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.

2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.

Table 2: Economic inactivity rates¹ for mothers by age of youngest dependent² child

Source: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.

2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.

3. Analysis is based on age of youngest child to avoid double counting of mothers with multiple children.

As a Non-Departmental Public Body, ministers and government officials meet regularly with representatives of the Scottish Social Services Council to discuss their statutory functions and delivery of ministerial objectives.

The latest Gross Domestic Product statistics for Scotland, covering the period July 2013 to September 2013, show that total output in the economy grew by 0.7 per cent compared to previous quarter. The services sector, which accounts for nearly three quarters of the economy, grew by 0.7 per cent during the latest period. The production sector grew by 0.6 per cent, and construction grew by 0.7 per cent.

The latest labour market statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics, show that the employment rate in Scotland was 72.7% and increased by 2 percentage points over the year to the period September 2013 to November 2013. This increase was driven by an increase in the female employment rate of 3.3 percentage points, and an increase of 0.7 percentage points in the male rate over the same period.

An employment rate is calculated by dividing the number of people in employment by the total population (employed, unemployed and economically inactive). It is therefore not possible to calculate employment rates for industry sectors since those who are unemployed or economically inactive cannot be allocated to an industry sector.

We are in regular contact with stakeholders to gather feedback on a range of factors that impact on demand for college places. The impact of the childcare plans set out in ‘Scotland’s Future’ will be assessed and factored into projections for demand ahead of implementation.

An evidence paper was produced in-house to inform the 2012 Women's Employment Summit. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence on key issues related to women's employment. It highlights that accessible, affordable and flexible childcare is fundamental to women’s participation in work and training. The paper is available at:

http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/media/294295/8_-__women_s_employment_summit_evidence_paper.pdf

The Council of Economic Advisers considered the economic and social importance of improving childcare provision in Scotland at their meeting on 30 August 2013. The council’s discussion was informed by a presentation by Professor Ailsa McKay on the economic and social importance of access to childcare. The minutes of this discussion are available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Meetings/30-08-2013

The analysis informing the council’s deliberations will be reflected in the annual Chair’s Report of the Council of Economic Advisers. It is anticipated that the chair’s report will be published in Spring 2014.

The Scottish Government published an economic analysis in January 2014 illustrating the potential impact of increasing Scotland’s female participation rate to levels seen in countries such as Norway and Sweden. The results are outlined in a document entitled Childcare and Labour Market Participation - Economic Analysis, and can be accessed using the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Childcare-and-Female-Labour-Market-Participation

The results published in the above report indicate that if Scotland’s female participation rate reached Swedish levels, output could rise by up to 1.7% (£2.2 billion) and tax revenues by 1.5% (£700 million) in the long run.

The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for employment rates for small cohorts of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.

The employment rate of mothers by number of children is shown in Table 1 and the employment rate of mothers by age of youngest dependent child in Table 2.

Table 1: Employment rates¹ for mothers by number of dependent² children

Source: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.

2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.

Table 2: Employment rates¹ for mothers by age of youngest dependent² child:

Source: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.

2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.

3. Analysis based on age of youngest child to avoid double counting of mothers with multiple children.

There are two main elements to childcare support for students at colleges and universities in Scotland.

The Discretionary Childcare Funds provide help with formal registered childcare cost. All eligible further and higher education student parents attending a college can apply for help with registered childcare costs from the College Childcare Fund. Full time eligible higher education students at university can apply for help with registered childcare costs from the University Childcare Fund.

The Lone Parents Childcare Grant provides a payment to all eligible further and higher education students who are lone parents and have formal registered childcare expenses while studying. This is an entitlement payment of up to £1,215 per year. Lone parent college students and full time lone parent university students can apply for additional help with registered childcare costs (over and above the Lone Parents Childcare Grant) from the discretionary childcare funds at their college or university.

Part time students at colleges or university must apply to the main Discretionary Fund for help with childcare costs. Students with unregistered childcare costs can also apply for help through the main Discretionary Funds.

In addition to this, students with children can receive support through Child Tax Credits. Students in receipt of child tax credits may also be eligible for free school meals.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides information about the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations. The information requested is available from the ‘Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2013 Provisional Results’ Office for National Statistics’ publication:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/annual-survey-of-hours-and-earnings/2013-provisional-results/index.html

Estimates of median gross weekly earnings by gender, part-time status and region are available in the zip file ‘ASHE 2013 (provisional) Table 25-Region by Public and Private Sector’ at the following page:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-328216

Within this set of tables, Table 25.1a gives data on Weekly pay-Gross (£). For female part-time employee jobs: United Kingdom, 2013.