ALEX Salmond has challenged the Prime Minister to debate the issue of childcare with him, as he pledged a "radical transformation" of provision if Scotland votes Yes in the referendum.

The SNP has committed to giving all three and four-year-olds, and vulnerable two-year-olds, 1,140 hours of childcare a year by the end of the first Parliament in an independent Scotland.

Nationalists argue they would need the hundreds of millions of pounds of extra tax revenues that would be raised by increased numbers of parents returning to work to fund such a scheme, insisting this is why it could only be achieved under independence.

The SNP says the plans would benefit about 240,000 children, in contrast to the 100,000 it says will be "pushed into poverty" by Westminster welfare reforms by 2020.

Mr Salmond said this could mean a "huge" financial saving for families, stating: "Childcare is expensive but with this plan, a parent saves almost £5,000 a year for a one-year-old and more than £2,000 for each two, three and four-year-old."

Mr Salmond added: "The Prime Minister needs to step up to the plate.

"He needs to have a debate about childcare and then let the people of Scotland judge who has got the best arguments."