The Liberal Democrats want to “provide more choice and opportunity” for families if they form part of the next government, the Scottish Secretary has said.
Alistair Carmichael believes his party can be trusted to do more to ease the pressure on families because they have “acted where others have failed” over the last five years.
Ahead of a speech in Glasgow where he will set out Lib Dem aims ahead of the general election, Mr Carmichael said: “Liberal Democrats understand the manifold pressures on the modern family.
“Modern family life is diverse and joyful, but it is also complex and difficult.
“Single parent families, two-parent families, same-sex parents, step-parents, stay at home mums, stay at home dads, two working parent families – all balancing the need to work, the wish to work, the wish to stay at home, or to work part time, or to work flexible hours – all set against the backdrop of the changing workplace and jobs market.
“Balancing the pressures and demands is a constant task and it is a challenge that must be eased by government action.
“And, in government, Liberal Democrats have taken that action.
“An income tax cut for 2.3 million individuals. Tax-free childcare to benefit two million families. Shared parental leave and the extension of flexible working.
“These things were our priorities and we have delivered them in the tightest of times.”
Last month, Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie launched the front page of their general election manifesto, with six priorities for the next parliament including commitments on health care, education, jobs and taxes.
Mr Carmichael said: “In the next Parliament, Liberal Democrats in government want to go further still. We want to do more to ease the strain.
“On income tax, we will further ease the burden on low and middle-income earners.
“On fairness and flexibility in the workplace, we will introduce a range of measures and initiatives. We will expand paternity leave to six weeks on a “use it or lose it” basis for fathers to encourage them to be away from work and with their young children.
“We will use transparency to drive fair pay, with companies employing more than 250 people required to publish information on gender pay differences, the number of staff earning less than the living wage, and information comparing the top and average salaries paid to staff.
“And we will look at ways to raise the minimum wage, set a fair living wage and ensure that all government departments pay it to all staff.
“And on childcare, our proposals to extend provision in the rest of the UK and – unlike our opponents – to fully protect the education budget – means that the equivalent money will be passed on to the Scottish Government, where Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that the same choices should be made in the interests of our families and children.”