MP welcomes £6,000 childcare boost for West Lothian Armed Forces families
Livingston constituency MP Gregor Poynton has welcomed a new UK labour Government scheme that will save Armed Forces families in Scotland up to £6,000 per child each year in childcare costs.
From September 2026, the new scheme will ensure military families in Scotland receive the same childcare support as those in England, helping parents with children aged from 9 months to 3 years old.
Gregor Poynton MP said:
“This is a significant step forward for Armed Forces families in Scotland and here in West Lothian.
“Supporting our Armed Forces and honouring those who serve is something we all share as a community here in the Livingston constituency. Our area has a proud military history, with organisations like the Military Museum Scotland and the Ancre Somme Association working hard to preserve that legacy.
“Service families make huge sacrifices, and this support will make a real difference, putting money back into household budgets and helping parents balance work and family life.
“Crucially, this brings fairness for families in Scotland, ensuring they are supported on the same basis as those elsewhere in the UK.”
The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s Early Years childcare reimbursement programme and is expected to benefit hundreds of families across Scotland.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
"Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. With demands on defence rising, from the conflict in the Middle East to growing Russian aggression, we are asking more of our military, and it is right that we continue to step up our support for them.
"This transformative offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, no matter where they are posted.
"We are making good on our promise to Armed Forces families - supporting them as they support our dedicated military personnel defending the UK and our allies. Our message to the Armed Forces community is clear: this government is on your side."
The new childcare offer will be rolled out from September 2026, with further details to be provided to eligible families in the coming months.