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Policy debates in an (independent?!) Scotland

Policy debates in an (independent?!) Scotland. Dr Alison Koslowski University of Edinburgh Alison.koslowski@ed.ac.uk. Scottish Independence Referendum today!. BALLOT PAPER VOTE (X) ONLY ONCE. Should Scotland be an independent country? YES NO.

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Policy debates in an (independent?!) Scotland

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  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 PAPERVOTE (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.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00439021.pdf (White Paper on Scotland’s Future)

  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/childcare.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

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