A Scottish church leader has accused the UK Government of discriminating against parents who stay at home to look after their children.

Chancellor George Osborne announced this week that the UK Government would give up to £1,200 per child going into childcare to families with two working parents.

However, Free Church minister the Reverend David Robertson said the Government was "creating a dependency culture for the wealthy".

Mr Robertson, who is also the director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, said the proposals were rooted in the "politics of privilege and the economics of madness".

He said there was no justification for providing the cash to those on £150,000 salaries "so that they can go out and earn that money".

"What if you are a parent who wants to work hard by staying at home and look after your children, thus helping them get on in life? Or those who want to work hard but can't get a decent job?" he said.

"This government says it will penalise those who are on housing benefit and have an extra room, even when suitable alternative accommodation is not
offered, because it cannot afford the bill.

"How then can it afford £1 billion to provide childcare for those who are earning up to £300,000 per year?

"Do we really have a Chancellor who is going to penalise the poor and subsidise the rich?"

He said the Government should provide a decent living wage for people trapped in poverty and help generate jobs "instead of subsidising the rich".

"This government is creating a dependency culture for the wealthy, ensuring a regular supply of taxpayers' money which can be used to purchase the cheap labour for the menial tasks, like looking after children, which they do not want to do," he said.

"It is the politics of privilege and the economics of madness."