It has been another really busy week for SCMA working to influence this on members’ behalf, so we’re providing a short update to keep you in the loop:
- The Scottish Government wrote to SCMA to confirm they largely agreed with our and members’ concerns, and have written at Cabinet and Ministerial level to the Treasury to also request a pause on the intended change to the ‘wear and tear’ agreement. This is a very positive step.
- The four nations/UK-wide survey undertaken by SCMA in collaboration with our counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was published. 4,850 childminders responded (1,167 from Scotland, representing 50% of SCMA’s membership and 42% of the childminding workforce in Scotland – a high response for an online survey). The results were stark and demand attention. SCMA published a blog containing a summary of the main Scotland-specific findings and data and shared these with the Scottish Government and other political parties in Scotland.
- SCMA met again with HMRC and continued to press the case for the ‘wear and tear’ allowance to be maintained for all childminders.
- We wrote again to all MPs in Scotland updating them on the support for childminders from the Scottish Government and sharing the Scotland-specific findings of the survey; and
- We have also submitted Freedom of Information requests to HMRC to release any impact assessments which they have undertaken to assess the effect of the intended changes on the childminding sector, as we do not believe the potential impact of implementing Making Tax Digital and the change to the ‘wear and tear’ allowance on childminders is understood. We have also asked HMRC to release papers regarding the consultation and decision to proceed with these changes.
We will continue to engage with others on this important issue and to represent our members.