Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has fiscal plans in place to tackle the low birthrate in Scotland.
HM Treasury does not have a policy that pertains to increasing the birth rate in any part of the UK.
There is a range of support available for those who have children including Child Benefit, which can be claimed for any number of children. The UK has the longest maternity leave available among all the OECD countries and where pay is enhanced as part of the statutory maternity pay entitlement, the rate of pay provided is higher than the international standard. Alongside this, the government provides 15 hours of free childcare for all 3-4 year olds, alongside a further 15 hours free for eligible working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, and 15 hours free for disadvantaged 2 year olds.