SNP childcare plans 'don't add up'
Scottish independence plans to provide widespread childcare, resulting in about 104,000 women entering employment, leave a shortfall of 21,000, according to the Treasury.
SNP childcare plans 'leave 21,000 job shortfall'
Plans by the Scottish government to get more women into work by providing free childcare involve "wishful thinking" in their costing, the Treasury has said.
The SNP has pledged to provide all three and four-year-olds, and vulnerable two-year-olds, with 1,140 hours of childcare per year by 2020.
It estimates that the policy could result in about 104,000 women entering employment and an additional £700 million in tax revenue which would help pay for the additional childcare.
But Treasury analysts said of the mothers affect by the policy only around 83,000 are not employed.
A spokesman for Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
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