Why is there less free childcare for under-threes in Scotland?

Earlier this year Fiona Asquith moved back home to the Highlands from Yorkshire with her husband and two-year-old son Euan.

She says she is now paying hundreds of pounds more each month for childcare than she would be if she’d stayed south of the border.

In England, Fiona would qualify for 15 hours of funded childcare per week, cutting down on the extra care she needs to pay for.

However, in Scotland, only about a quarter of two-year-olds currently qualify, usually those from the lowest income families.

The difference between the two arrangements means Fiona and her husband are paying about £300 a month more than they would if they had stayed in Yorkshire.

And next year, when the UK government increases the amount of funded hours in England to 30, the gap will be even greater.

In Scotland, children from the age of three get 30 hours a week of free childcare during term time, regardless of their parents’ working status

However, the SNP’s 2021 manifesto committed to expanding free early years childcare to all one and two year olds.

Currently it only applies to two-year-olds whose parents receive certain benefits or have experience of care.