Cole-Hamilton: SNP must erase all trace of ministerial power grab from care bill

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton will today (Tuesday 25th February) speak to an amendment he has tabled to rename the so-called National Care Service Bill, after the Scottish Government were forced to remove sections of the bill which would have handed unprecedented control over the delivery of local social care to ministers.

Scottish Liberal Democrats were the only party to oppose the SNP’s plans to centralise control of social care services and remove power from communities from day one.

However, the title of the bill still claims to implement a national care service. The amendment tabled by Mr Cole-Hamilton would rename the legislation the Care and Carers Bill, reflecting what Liberal Democrats see as the priorities for this bill.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: 

“For four years, the SNP wasted £30 million on trying to push through a bureaucratic, ministerial power grab of social care. That was money that could have paid the salaries of 1,200 care workers.

“Ministers have now been forced to junk this part of the legislation, so it is simply wrong for the title of the bill to pretend this is not the case.

“By renaming the legislation, parliament can send a clear message to care workers, care users and the legions of unpaid carers that they are what really matters.

“The Liberal Democrats are the party of care. We introduced free personal care in Scotland, enshrined the right to carers leave in employment law and have just won a change that will enable family carers to earn more. Ed Davey put it at the heart of our manifesto and opened up on his own life as a carer.

“Carers- paid and unpaid, young and old- do a critical job. They deserve far more support, but are too often forgotten and ignored. It’s why our plans would see care workers properly rewarded, high quality care for everyone who needs it and unpaid carers given the fair deal they deserve.”