A “VERY proud” First Minister John Swinney has celebrated the eighth anniversary of his SNP government’s baby box scheme, while Scottish Labour demanded an apology for broken promises on playparks.

More than 350,000 of the boxes, which can double as a cot and contain £400 of essentials such as a mattress, blanket, changing mat, books and clothing, have been distributed since 2017.

Ahead of a visit to Western Isles Hospital on Lewis on Friday, where he would deliver a box to parents-to-be Mairi Morrison and her partner George Waddington, Mr Swinney said: “It is clear that this universal offer, a UK first, has been hugely successful with 89 per cent of all parents with newborn babies registering for a box — benefiting around 41,000 families annually.”

“My number one priority as first minister is to end child poverty in Scotland — and I am very proud of the impact that the baby box is making to support families.”

Scottish Labour, meanwhile, raised concerns that SNP promises made to “renew every play park in Scotland” at the 2021 election were falling short, with just 1,289 of the nation’s 4,568 having had the works, despite the target being watered down to just 2,000.

Branding it “yet another broken promise,” Scottish Labour’s children and young people spokesman Martin Whitfield said: “Playparks are a lifeline for families, especially in communities where outdoor space is already limited.

“Thousands of children are at risk of being left behind by the SNP’s lack of urgency and they are owed an apology by this inept government.

“The SNP must get a grip and deliver on their promise before yet another generation is let down by their failure to deliver.”