Policy debates in an (independent?!) Scotland

Dr Alison Koslowski

University of Edinburgh

Alison.koslowski@ed.ac.uk

Scottish Independence Referendum today!

BALLOT PAPERVOTE (X) ONLY ONCE

• Should Scotland be an independent country?

– YES– NO

Childcare as a central policy issue for the Yes campaign

• Lead campaigning issue - Affordable childcare (e.g. rather than nuclear weapons…)– http://www.yesscotland.net/

• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00439021.pdf (White Paper on Scotland’s Future)

An independent Commission for Childcare

Reform - Third sector rallying – creation of an

‘independent’ commission to inform cross-party talks http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/html/childcare.htm-

- Childcare Alliance

- Extremely influential – able to organise events with Ministers etc.

Reserved and devolved powers

• The Scotland Act 1998 created a Scottish Parliament and passed to it the powers to make laws on a range of issues. These powers were extended by the Scotland Act 2012

• The issues upon which the Scottish Parliament can make laws are known as devolved matters. These include:– Education and training– Health and social services

• However, some issues – remain the responsibility of the UK Parliament and are known as reserved matters. These include:– Benefits and social security– Employment

Status quo in Scotland/UK

• Not an integrated system – possibly exacerbated by devolution in Scotland

• Education systems devolved, but not leave systems

• If still in UK, in April 2015 shared parental leave will be possible (fathers can take maternity leave)

• Maternity leave is for 52 weeks, paternity leave is for 2 weeks. Some of this is paid. Parental leave (not shared parental leave) is unpaid.

Scottish Government Short Life Parental Leave Advisory

Group• Formed (at speed) in May 2014

• To put together a constitutional policy proposition for the Minister in the case of independence or increase of reserved powers following referendum

• Not allowed to discuss it in public yet…

• But, the SG civil servants brief was “tell us the gold standard” – so I did

Whit nou?!

• Scotland will have decided…

• A new country or increased devolution?

• Whatever, it has been a great year for putting leave policy on the map as an issue in Scotland