FIRST MINISTER Humza Yousaf hailed Scotland’s “great progress” towards gender equality today as he announced a £16 million investment in nurseries so that childcare workers can be paid at least £12 an hour from April.

Announcing the funding boost during a visit to a Glasgow nursery on International Women’s Day, he said that cash for childcare will help remove some of the “barriers” that women still face.

Mr Yousaf added that he is “proud” that most members of his cabinet are female and that he has appointed the first woman of colour to the Scottish government, with Kaukab Stewart serving as minister for culture, Europe and international development.