The SNP has insisted the Conservatives can't be trusted to protect Scots families from the cost of living crisis after a Tory minister was blasted for suggesting maternity rights should be slashed.
Mel Stride, recently appointed UK Work and Pensions secretary by Rishi Sunak, previously complained that rules on leave for new mothers and fathers were too "onerous".
The Tory MP used an opinion piece in 2012 to take issue with how workers "can require their employer to provide up to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave and to keep their job open for their potential return".
Stride claimed there was "some evidence" that as maternity policies are made "more generous, the likelihood of a mother with young children returning to work diminishes".
It comes as the Scottish Government announced the number of families north of the Border taking advantage of its Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) policy had risen by three per cent in the last year.
SNP MSP Siobhian Brown said: "Only with independence can we protect families in Scotland from the threat the Tories pose. They are already in the process of dismantling human rights since Brexit and there is no knowing where they might stop.
"The Scottish Government has provided free early learning and childcare for every child between three and four and eligible two-year-olds, saving the average family £5,000 per eligible child.
"On top of that it has also rolled out the Scottish Child Payment and other social security payments that provide real support for families through the Tory-made cost of living crisis.
"However, the Scottish Government continues to work with one hand tied behind its back when trying to support families.
"We are at the mercy of a Tory government that does not care about families and workers, whilst also pushing costs up for households across Scotland."
A total of 93,902 children aged two to five were accessing funded ELC at the start of September – a three per cent rise from the same time last year. Of those, 83,237 - 89 per cent - were benefiting from the 1,140 hours offer.
Stride was last week rebuked by Downing Street over his call for women's maternity rights to be slashed.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride faced a humiliating slap down over his maternity rights comments.
Asked whether Rishi Sunak agreed with Stride that maternity rights should be slashed, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “No.”
He added: "Obviously, the UK has one of the most generous maternity leave entitlements in the world to support working parents."
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