By Bill Heaney
Will the Scottish Government keep its word to establish non-residential care charges before the end of the current parliamentry session in 18 months time?
Labour’s Paul O’Kane today pressed the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd, who said the Government was working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to identify options for the removal of the care charges “as part of wider work with partners on social care improvement”.
He said: “With less than 18 months of parliamentary time left in this session, it sounds to me that that is another promise made by the Scottish National Party in its manifesto that will not be met.
“Broken promises have consequences, particularly for people in many local authorities across Scotland who are looking at having to introduce care charges for the first time for people who have physical and learning disabilities.
Labour MSP Paul O’Kane and Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing.
“It also sits on the back of a litany of promises that were made to disabled people, including access to a changing places toilet fund; annual health checks for people with learning disabilities; the proposed learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill; the human rights bill; and the ditched national care service.
“We have also learned today that £20 million of the community living change fund has been wasted or is unaccounted for.
“When will the minister and her Government finally deliver on the pledge to end non-residential care charges and rectify a long list of broken promises to Scotland’s disabled community?”
Maree Todd told him: “The Scottish Government and our partners remain absolutely committed to reviewing non-residential care charges as part of the broader reform of social care.
“I have heard directly from disabled groups and vulnerable individuals across Scotland about the significant impact that those charges have on their lives, and I have directed my officials to continue working with COSLA and local partners to explore any possible options to achieve that objective, considering the current economic climate.
“I recognise the member’s interests and advocacy in this area, but I think that it is quite rich for a member of the Labour Party to lecture me about broken promises.”
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