1. Policy debates in an (independent?!) Scotland Dr Alison Koslowski University of Edinburgh Alison.koslowski@ed.ac.uk

2. Scottish Independence Referendum today!

3. BALLOT PAPER VOTE (X) ONLY ONCE Should Scotland be an independent country? –YES –NO

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

5. 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/c hildcare.htm- http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/html/c hildcare.htm- -Childcare Alliance -Extremely influential – able to organise events with Ministers etc.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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