The Scottish Government’s commitment to women has been dismissed as “paper thin” by Labour.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said the SNP was just starting to pay attention to issues affecting women in order to win votes in the independence referendum.
She is due to speak at a Labour Party summit for women’s organisation in Edinburgh today, where she will say First Minister Alex Salmond has “failed to answer fundamental questions”.
Ms Curran is set to make her remarks following yesterday’s results from the annual Scottish Social Attitudes Survey which found just 27% of women back independence.
“Women are concerned about their own future and their family’s future, and Alex Salmond and the SNP haven’t given them any of the answers they need,” Ms Curran will say.
The audience will hear Mr Salmond “struggled to answer basic questions” during the TV debate with Better Together leader Alistair Darling.
“On the doorstep across Scotland this week, women told me the same thing,” Ms Curran will say.
“They don’t want to take this risk with their family’s future. Alex Salmond is playing fast and loose with Scotland’s economy, and we know it.”
Ms Curran will outline research by the House of Commons library showing that seven years after the SNP took power, less than a third of board members on some non-departmental bodies were women. Several bodies – including Visit Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage – have one or two female members.
Ms Curran will say the SNP administration has failed to deliver for women using its existing powers in areas such as childcare, health and education.
“They (female voters) know that the SNP only started paying attention to them when they wanted to win their votes,” she will say.
“Our parliament now has a lower proportion of women than when it was established. A parliament that was meant to enhance the role of women has instead seen progress stall.
“Despite this, the SNP have failed to take any real action as a party or a government to change this. Their commitment to increasing women’s representation is paper-thin.”