Natalie Don-Innes
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Marie McNair: I am proud of the policies that the Scottish National Party Government has introduced, which make childcare more accessible. We know that wraparound childcare is essential to ensuring that parents can find and retain employment, and that the impact of that policy is keeping children out of poverty.”
“Families in Clydebank and Milngavie, like those throughout Scotland, benefit from our investment of £1 billion annually in the provision of 1,140 hours of high- quality early learning and childcare.”
“I have welcomed the opportunity to visit a wide range of settings during my time in office, seeing our support and funding in action and witnessing the passion, dedication and skill of our childcare professionals, who seek every day to get it right for every child.”
“That work will be developed with adoptive families and delivery partners to ensure that it reflects lived experience and supports a consistent national approach.”
“Although we have invested heavily in CAMHS, there might be more to do to ensure that children and young people get the support that they need. I have acknowledged the challenges that adoptive families face, the need to strengthen support and the dedication of the practitioners who support those families.”
“I will respond to a number of points that were raised in today’s debate, but, given that this is my final speech, I will take a minute to thank the people of the constituency that I represent— Renfrewshire North and West.”
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“I hope that this statement reassures members of our continuing focus on secure accommodation capacity and that we are maintaining our commitment to the highest standards of care across the entire system. I am aware that members will have further questions, which I will be pleased to answer now. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business. I encourage members who wish to ask a question to press their request- to-speak buttons now, if they have not already done so.”
“This week, we also launched a national marketing campaign aimed at recruiting more local authority foster carers, and, by the end of 2025, we will publish a new vision for kinship care, reaffirming its central place in the care system. These broader measures aim to support children before they come into crisis and before they may need interventions like secure care. As confirmed in the programme for government last week, I will introduce legislation ahead of the summer recess to further advance the changes that are required to keep the Promise to Scotland’s children and to our care-experienced community. Following the bill’s introduction, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with members from across the chamber.”
“With 10 pathfinder and affiliate partnerships now established across Scotland, that funding will strengthen efforts to enhance care, health and justice outcomes for children and young people who are affected by trauma. As this week marks the first week of foster care fortnight, it is important for me to be clear that foster carers and kinship carers provide safe, stable and loving homes to children and young people who cannot remain with their families. That is why we introduced the Scottish recommended allowance in August 2023, which will help to ensure that all eligible foster and kinship carers receive a consistent minimum level of financial support. While we consider the findings of an independent review of the SRA, which will be published later this month, we will increase the SRA in 2025-26 with an additional £1.9 million.”
“It will also be informed by the work that is being led by The Promise Scotland in the year ahead to further develop “Plan 24-30” and the route maps for change. Children’s care services also rely on a skilled and specialist workforce. That is why we continue to focus on ensuring that a sustainable supply of graduates are entering into the Scottish social work profession. I am pleased to announce today that the Scottish Government will be uplifting the value of the postgraduate social work bursary that is administered to eligible students by the Scottish Social Services Council to £11,000 per year from the 2025-26 academic year. Another part of our unwavering commitment to Scotland’s children is our continued support for the development of bairns’ hoose, which includes £10.5 million in additional investment for 2025-26.”
“To ensure that holistic family support is available in our communities and to help families thrive and prevent crisis, we have increased funding for children’s services planning partnerships, through the whole family wellbeing fund, to £38 million this year. I am pleased that the latest social work statistics, which were published in April, suggest that progress is being made. There has been an 18.1 per cent reduction in the number of children and young people who are in care since the Promise was made in 2020. Although that only tells part of the story, it is encouraging progress. This activity will continue to be informed by the next stages of “The Promise Progress Framework”, which was published jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and The Promise Scotland last year.”
“I have been clear that secure accommodation should be used only when absolutely necessary. That is why we are also working closely with third sector partners to identify and develop high- intensity, wraparound services that offer credible, safe alternatives to the deprivation of liberty. These services will help to improve outcomes, reduce reliance on secure care and deliver the ambitions of the Promise. Further information will be included in our response, which will be published next month, to the “Reimagining Secure Care” report. Members are aware of how crucial early help and support is in preventing families from reaching crisis in the first place.”
“We hope to confirm shortly the offer of another Government-funded national contingency resource. Officials have also contacted and visited former secure accommodation and residential childcare sites in Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire, to see whether those sites could be brought back into service to support restored capacity. We have also asked each current secure provider how they might be able to assist with restoring capacity. We might even consider new- build flexible secure provision, in line with what is set out in the Promise and the “Reimagining Secure Care” report. Beyond direct secure capacity, officials have reached out to NHS Lothian colleagues to learn about multidisciplinary health-led teams that offer trauma-informed alternatives. Officials have spoken with a range of potential third sector partners.”
“That said, I assure members that the Scottish Government has been active across the three key domains of the challenge—looking at possibilities before, during and after secure care. All three are essential aspects of a comprehensive response. In order to be as helpful as I can to Parliament, I will summarise some options that have been generated over recent weeks, although I emphasise that not all of these leads will be realised. I will say as much as I can without breaching potential partners’ confidence or risking child confidentiality. I am grateful to everyone across the sector who has generously supported that activity. At each stage, we have benefited from advice and support from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Social Work Scotland.”
“Indeed, each action must be implemented in a way that upholds the highest standards of safety and overall equity of access. By funding a dedicated professional lead at Social Work Scotland for the next 12 months, we are supporting improved awareness and confidence among professionals who work in Scotland’s placing authorities. The policy and practice adviser will work alongside officials in Scottish Government. The recruitment process is now well under way, and the interviews have been held in the past week. My late April correspondence to committees confirmed that I had intended to deliver a further statement next month, at which point we would be able to confirm other elements of our contingency actions, alongside our response to the “Reimagining Secure Care” report.”
“One key factor that will directly inform the extent of capacity restoration action will be the continued recovery at St Mary’s Kenmure. St Mary’s is currently actively augmenting staff capacity and wishes to support an incremental, sustainable and increased capacity as soon as is safely possible. I understand that some key appointments have been made and others are in train. Our primary focus has been on stabilising and restoring capacity within secure accommodation. This is essential to ensuring that children have continued access to the care and support that they need to keep them and others safe in environments that are best suited to their individual needs. I assure the Parliament that we are approaching that work with urgency and care.”
“Decisions around the placement of children in secure accommodation—and the appropriate continuation of placements—remain with the relevant decision makers, including the independent courts, children’s hearings, chief social work officers and secure accommodation providers. Every appropriate action is being taken to protect capacity across the secure estate and, as of 10 am, four secure places were available. On capacity, I am pleased to confirm that the new national contingency resource opened in Rossie last month. Those beds are now available and are being used to care for children. That represents a significant Government commitment, but we expect to take further capacity restoration action in the months ahead. I am very grateful to providers and other partners for their continued agility as we consider options.”
“I acknowledge the current capacity constraints in secure care. Alongside partners, we are taking a range of actions to address those challenges, and I have been updating the Parliament regularly since the beginning of the year. I highlighted those actions during my most recent statement in late March and, at the end of April, I wrote to the conveners of the Education, Children and Young People Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee. Today, I will set out again the work that we are doing to bolster our secure care estate, to develop preventative alternatives to deprivation of liberty, and to improve the wider care system. In doing so, we aim to maintain an integrated, equitable approach to children who may require secure care.”
“My officials have already been in touch with the MAA on that.”
“Many of those who are affected by historical adoption practices have already passed, so urgent action is imperative. As the minister said in her previous answer, one of the campaigners’ key asks of the Scottish Government is to fund an oral history gathering, an issue that, as she said, they discussed with the First Minister at their recent meeting. Can the minister advise what the Scottish Government’s response is to the call for an oral history gathering? Natalie Don-Innes: Yes, of course. As I mentioned in my previous answer, the First Minister has committed in writing to the MAA to explore the oral history project. He has asked officials to work with campaign groups, including the MAA, stakeholders and people with lived experience to discuss how best to take forward the work and to agree timescales.”
“This Government issued a national apology in 2023 for the lifelong suffering that was experienced by those affected by historical forced adoption. Those practices should not have happened, and it is right that we listen to the experiences of mothers and adoptees who continue to feel the impact. The First Minister recently met with the Movement for an Adoption Apology Scotland and committed to exploring the potential for an oral history project. That would offer a space for sharing and proper recording of personal testimonies, acknowledging the past and providing wider societal recognition and education. Clare Haughey: Last week, campaigners for the Movement for an Adoption Apology Scotland held an event sponsored by my colleague Marie McNair.”
“When that works well, that should help in relation to the delays and issues with planning ahead that members have raised. If local authorities have concerns about what they find following consultation, they are able to discuss those with the”
“However, I recognise that more must be done to ensure fair and consistent provision for children and families, and I acknowledge that a postcode lottery can sometimes exist, particularly in more remote and rural areas. I reaffirm the Government’s commitment to getting it right for every child. As members have noted throughout the debate, the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 places statutory duties on local authorities to provide care, as is appropriate, to children in need in their area “outside school hours; or... during school holidays”. Local authorities have a statutory duty to consult “at least once every two years” the parents and carers of children in their area about providing appropriate care. They also have a duty to “prepare and publish their plans in relation to the provision of” such care.”
“When it is available, holiday activity provision plays a vital role in supporting both child and parental health and wellbeing and has a disproportionately powerful impact on the lives of disabled children and their families. That can be extremely positive when the system works well but problematic when it does not. Despite the challenges, many high-quality and well-established services are being delivered across Scotland. Many of them have been highlighted in the debate, and I commend the good work of local authorities and the third sector in delivering that support for families. Those services are often supported by parents and volunteers, which takes dedication and time.”
“I hear very clearly the frustrations and challenges that are experienced by the parents and carers of children who have disabilities and additional support needs—from accessing specialist services that meet their expectations and provide quality experiences for their children to finding sustainable employment opportunities that are manageable around established care routines. I have also heard parents and carers express the challenges that they experience in finding and accessing the services that they need to support them to work, when that is possible, to allow time for a short break and to ensure equality of opportunity for their children to take part in activities and play.”
“I thank Mr Marra for raising this issue and for leading the debate, and I thank all members for their speeches. I am sorry to hear some of the accounts that members have read out in relation to families’ access to services. The subject of support for children who have disabilities and additional support needs—be it during the school day or, as has been highlighted in the debate, outside of school hours, such as during the holidays or activities—is an important and emotive one. That has been demonstrated by the passionate speeches that members have made. I acknowledge the concerns and will respond to some of the points that have been made in the debate before setting out how we plan to address those concerns.”
“We expect local authorities to consult parents, carers and families to ensure that they meet local needs in relation to childcare. We want all families to have access to high-quality and flexible childcare that meets their needs. Of course, we understand that local authorities must have a level of flexibility when it comes to managing their estate. The need for such flexibility might be prompted by, for example, demographic changes. I have already alluded to the review of the mothballing guidance, but I am more than happy to discuss Mr Burnett’s concerns in the context of the review.”
“When the issue was raised in the chamber, the First Minister and the minister stated that there was a requirement for local consultation. No consultation has taken place with any of the communities affected, and parents are experiencing poor communication with council officers. We have also received the impact assessment of the decision for one of the nursery closures, which was approved on 30 April, more than a month after the closures were announced on 28 March. Will the minister outline what action the Scottish Government will take to ensure that the national mothballing guidance is followed? What can parents do when councils do not follow their own processes? Natalie Don-Innes: I find the situation that Mr Burnett has brought to my attention very concerning.”
“Local authorities are responsible for the management of their early learning and childcare estate. Statutory guidance sets out the Scottish Government’s expectations in relation to the mothballing of nurseries. Any mothballing must be temporary. Parents should still be able to make applications for children to attend mothballed nurseries, and councils should be able to reopen them if circumstances change. As the First Minister stated last month, we are reviewing the guidance to provide greater clarity on whether mothballing is the appropriate action to take. Local authorities are responsible for complying with their statutory duties and are democratically accountable to their local electorate. Alexander Burnett: As the minister knows, it was announced just before Easter that four nurseries in Aberdeenshire would be mothballed.”
“However, the member needs to reflect on some of the decisions that his United Kingdom Government colleagues have made and the impact that they will have on families. The UK Labour Government’s increase to national insurance contributions is creating a financial burden on early years providers in Scotland, and there is deep concern across the childcare sector about those changes. Given the lack of support from the UK Government, it is likely that those providers will have to pass costs on to families because of those decisions. I find the member’s response quite difficult in the context of some of the decisions that his UK Government colleagues are making.”
“Martin Whitfield: I am grateful for that answer, but I am disappointed that the Government is not accepting the challenge that exists. Over the past 18 years, childcare costs have risen by nearly 50 per cent, and fewer than one in three councils have enough places to meet demand. In the light of the minister’s response, when will all councils be able to meet the demand for childcare for children who are aged three-plus years? Natalie Don-Innes: We are continuing to work with local authorities to ensure that our childcare offer is what families and children need, as I have laid out in my previous answers. I have set out what the Scottish Government is doing and my willingness to continue to listen to members and to families and providers about what they require.”
“I accept that, in the current climate, families are finding things difficult, and childcare costs are a part of that, but in Scotland we are increasing our childcare offer and providing for families. As I said in my first answer, we continue to work with local authorities to reach more young children through maximising uptake of our early learning and childcare offer for two-year-olds. Work in our early adopter communities continues to expand; it has recently included involvement with younger children and the needs of those families. In addition, we are taking a range of other actions in relation to childcare. I will always continue to look for ways to support families, but I believe that our offer in Scotland is positive for children and families.”
“Martin Whitfield: The 2025 survey by the charity Coram Family and Childcare shows that childcare costs for under-threes in Scotland have risen by 7 per cent since last year, to approximately £122 per week or £6,300 per year. Meanwhile, fewer than one in three Scottish councils report having enough childcare places to meet the demand for places for the three and four- year-olds the minister talks about. Only 7 per cent of councils have adequate provision for older children. Does the minister accept that, after years of promises, the Government is failing to deliver affordable and accessible childcare and that Scotland’s young families are being let down? Natalie Don-Innes: I do not accept that.”
“Scotland is the only part of the United Kingdom to offer 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, regardless of their parents’ working status, which puts children first. We have invested about £1 billion every year in funded early learning and childcare since 2021, because that is fundamental to giving children the best start in life. The Scottish Government continues to work with local authorities to reach more young children through maximising uptake of our ELC offer for eligible two-year-olds. The 2025-26 budget provides up to an additional £8 million of investment for work with our early adopter communities in six local authorities to build our understanding of what models of childcare work best for children and their families.”
“We have taken action to ensure awareness of that, such as by strengthening the guidance that was developed with our local authority partners by making explicit reference to the eligibility of adopted children. There is flexibility in how local authorities can use the funding, in recognition of the importance of local decision making, but we expect the guidance to be followed. If Rona Mackay is aware of any specific circumstances in which that is not the case, I can look into the matter if she would like to write to me with the details.”
“Rona Mackay: Will the minister expand on whether adopted children who were previously looked after are eligible to benefit from education support through the care-experienced children and young people fund and whether local authorities have any discretion to restrict their access? If not, what action is being taken to ensure that the fund is applied equitably and in line with the national definitions of care experience? Natalie Don-Innes: I confirm that adopted children who were previously looked after are eligible for support through the care-experienced children and young people fund. That is set out clearly in the operational guidance for the fund.”
“We publish national operational guidance for the care- experienced children and young people fund, to help local authorities to determine how to invest the funding to improve educational outcomes for care-experienced children and young people from birth to the age of 26, supported by the strategic aims of the Promise and the Scottish attainment challenge. Directors of education and chief social workers agree how plans are implemented locally. Funding can be used to support anyone who is currently in care or from a looked-after background or who has been at any stage in their life.”
“Arrangements to commence closer to the child’s birthday are encouraged in our statutory guidance. Every two years, local authorities are required to consult families in their area about how they should make ELC available, to ensure that they are meeting local needs. I encourage families across Scotland to share their views and needs with their local authority in order to inform local decisions about funded”
“Will she also encourage the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to ensure that local councils are properly funded, so that the postcode lottery can be ended? Natalie Don-Innes: As I have said, we invest almost £1 billion per year in our ELC offering. In the interests of transparency, I declare that I have met the petitioner recently in my capacity as a constituency MSP, so I am aware of the matter. For completeness, as is recorded on my published list of interests, my husband is a councillor for Renfrewshire Council. As I said in my previous answer, statutory eligibility for funded early learning and childcare begins the term after a child’s birthday, but local authorities have the power to offer earlier start dates, depending on local priorities.”
“Neil Bibby: Renfrewshire Council used to offer access to free early learning and childcare hours as soon as a child turned three. Due to funding pressures and cutbacks, children must now wait until the start of the school term following their third birthday. That will result in many working parents having to pay for childcare—including Vahri Gemmell, who is my and the minister’s constituent, who must pay around £4,000 in childcare for the four months that her son Adam is otherwise set to miss out on. Given that the Scottish Government has stated that it encourages local councils to offer free childcare hours as soon as a child turns three, will the minister join me in encouraging her colleagues in Renfrewshire Council to reverse their childcare cuts?”
“The Scottish Government has made tough decisions to prioritise investment of almost £1 billion per year to deliver a universally funded early learning and childcare offer, which is available regardless of whether parents are working and which puts children’s interests first. According to the latest ELC census, uptake of funded ELC for three and four-year-olds remains nearly universal in Scotland: an estimated 95 per cent of eligible children receive it. The Scottish Government does not collect data on children receiving funded ELC within one week of their third birthday. Statutory eligibility begins the term after a child’s birthday, but local authorities have the power to offer earlier start dates, depending on local priorities.”
“That will complement the work that we are doing in schools to educate our young people on the harms of various substances, and the wider work to prevent smoking and vaping. He will remember, of course, that it is a cross-portfolio issue. Early Learning and Childcare (Three-year-olds) 4.”
“It has been reported to me that certain schools now have toilets designated by the pupils for vaping. Can the minister provide an update on whether schools and local authorities are now consistently monitoring vaping among pupils? Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold that information. I know that Mr Golden has raised the question before. As I said in my previous answer, research has identified vaping as one of the new and emerging patterns of disruptive behaviour; therefore, it is a concern. The member will be aware that the relationships and behaviour in schools national action plan includes a specific commitment to develop specific guidance on vaping and substance use in schools.”
“We remain very concerned about the proportion of young people who use vaping products. The behaviour in Scottish schools research identified vaping as an emerging concern. We are working with Education Scotland and public and third-sector partners to support work on substance use education, in line with our tobacco and vaping framework, to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034. An awareness-raising campaign on the health impacts of vaping and risks of nicotine addiction was rolled out to schools in November 2023 and reissued in November 2024, to support learning around health and wellbeing. Maurice Golden: I raised the issue of vaping in schools around 18 months ago. At that time, I noted that the majority of councils held no information on how many vapes were being confiscated from pupils.”
“Any closure, temporary or permanent, should be considered in consultation with local people. We are currently reviewing guidance on mothballing to provide greater clarity on when it is an appropriate action to take. That will ensure that local decisions are based on effective engagement with the community, better reflect the needs of rural families and help to maintain access to early learning in those communities. I expect the local authority to be engaging with families in the area to ensure that the ELC provision is fit to meet their needs.”
“Parents report that closures are being pursued despite the nurseries being at nearly 80 per cent capacity, which goes against national guidance. Families now face longer journeys, higher childcare costs and, for some, a need to reduce working hours. Losing a nursery in a rural area is not just a childcare issue—it is a death knell for local communities. Can the minister confirm that the legislation and existing guidance cover nurseries? How is the Scottish Government supporting councils to maintain provision and ensure that rural communities and families are protected? Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that rural schools and nurseries play in sustaining local communities. I remind the member that responsibility for decisions about local provision rests with local councils.”
“Access to high-quality, accessible and affordable early learning and childcare is vital for our rural communities. That is why the Scottish Government funds local authorities to deliver 1,140 hours of ELC to all eligible children with around £1 billion each year. Councils are responsible for ensuring that local provision meets families’ needs and for taking decisions relating to their ELC estate. In addition, the Scottish Government is supporting projects to improve childcare provision in rural communities through the addressing depopulation action plan, our childcare early adopter communities programme and the programme for Scotland’s childminding future. Alexander Burnett: There are currently four nurseries being mothballed in Aberdeenshire, just as Tullynessle school was last year, even though it was expected to be full.”
“Martin Whitfield is aware of all the work that we are doing in relation to our early adopter communities and other aspects of our childcare offer. I will continue to look for ways that we can support parents with childcare costs.”
“Natalie Don-Innes: Mr Whitfield raises an important point, but I point out that Scotland is the only part of the United Kingdom that offers 1,140 hours a year of funded ELC to all three and four- year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, and our investment is fundamental to giving children the best start in life. By contrast, the Institute for Fiscal Studies made it clear that the poorest third of families in England will see almost no direct benefit from the UK Government’s childcare entitlements. Let me be clear that this is about what is best for Scotland’s children. Our offer is built for the children who need it the most. That said, we continue to work with local authorities and stakeholders to see how we can provide more support for parents.”
“Martin Whitfield: Although a part-time nursery place for a child under the age of two now costs an average of £70.51 per week in England, after working-parent entitlements are taken into account, that represents a 56 per cent decrease since last year. In Scotland, a part-time nursery place for a child under two costs an average of £122.38, which represents a 7 per cent rise since 2024. Clearly, that will hit lowest-paid workers hardest, with many families in Scotland having to pay £50 more a week than families in England are paying for the same childcare. What will the Scottish Government do to address that inequality?”
“Supporting families through access to high-quality, affordable and accessible childcare is critical to the First Minister’s mission of eradicating child poverty. That is why, since 2021, we have prioritised investment of £1 billion per year in funded early learning and childcare for all three-year-olds and four-year-olds, and the two-year-olds who need it most. Our interim evaluation report, “Early Learning and Childcare Expansion to 1140 hours”, which was published in August 2024, found that the uptake of funded hours is high and that there are promising signs that the expansion is delivering improvements in quality, flexibility, accessibility and affordability. Our full evaluation report will be published later this year.”
“Natalie Don-Innes: The two main sectors in which additional PVG checks will be required as a result of the legal requirement or the move to regulated roles are the health sector and the voluntary sector. The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 puts greater emphasis on those who have power and influence over children and protected adults in determining whether an individual is in a regulated role. I would be more than happy to update Ms Smith about the fees following question time. ScotRail Ticket Office Staffing 3.”
“On Tuesday 1 April, it became a legal requirement for anyone carrying out a regulated role to be a member of the PVG scheme. There are currently 1,693,115 PVG scheme members. After a person joins the PVG scheme, Disclosure Scotland continuously monitors them to ensure that they have not become unsuitable to carry out a regulated role. Liz Smith: It is good to see that the law has been tightened up in that regard. However, I was not able to establish through my own research or that of a constituent whether the change to the law also includes changes to the criteria for the designation of qualifying voluntary organisations that are not required to pay the £59 fee for their employees.”
“Members across the chamber would rightly be critical if, in an alternative scenario, the Government were to sign up to a bill with unknown financial implications. Ring fencing in excess of £40 million annually within the budget to secure provision of one form of outdoor learning would come at the detriment of other competing policy and public priorities. I heard what the member said about pupil equity funding, but that could not be guaranteed year on year. As I have said, a number of costs have not been considered in the proposal.”
“We need to remember that the bill does two things: it places a duty on education authorities and the managers of grant- aided schools to secure the provision of outdoor learning opportunities, which many schools across the country already offer, and it places a duty on the Scottish Government to fund that. There are known gaps in the bill’s financial modelling relating to the cost of staffing, the impact of inflation and the lack of modelling of additional costs to accommodate pupils with ASN, as well as other ancillary costs. Until more clarity can be provided, we cannot commit to financing a proposal for which the true costs are as yet unknown. John Mason: Will the member take an intervention? Natalie Don-Innes: I need to make a little progress.”
“Douglas Ross: Is the minister able to explain how the process will work? We have a period of only six months. If no action is taken and no financial resolution is lodged, the bill will automatically fall. Therefore, can she give a commitment to come back, either to the lead committee or to the Parliament, to tell us her determination on whether those issues have been addressed before the six-month period? Otherwise, the Parliament will not have an opportunity to give its view. Natalie Don-Innes: I have been very clear that, as the process requires, I am willing to engage with the member in charge of the bill on those matters and will do so immediately and at pace. I want to talk through some of the significant challenges that I have previously discussed with the member. Turning first to financing, the bill as introduced is unaffordable.”