Scotland’s Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Minister has dismissed the suggestion that the government will be withdrawing the National Care Service Bill.

Maree Todd has today told Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sports Committee that the government is committed to the National Care Service Bill in its current form.

In response to a request from the committee for more information on timelines of a potential withdrawal and reintroduction of the Bill, the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing writes:

‘I would like to be clear that the Scottish government will not withdraw the Bill.

‘Given the investment of time and experience from many individuals and organisations so far, I do not wish to speculate on an option the government does not intend to take.’

It comes as the government’s proposed changes to the Bill could potentially save millions in set up costs for the NCS, primarily through the decision to no longer establish 31 new care boards.

Details of accountability for social care services to be shared between local authorities and ministers, as well as the scrapping of care boards, were outlined in an updated financial memorandum sent to the finance committee late last year.

Despite potential savings, these changes have caused leaders in the social care sector to raise questions over the “fundamentally changed” NCS – including how the government’s co-design aims will be met.

Ms Todd explained in a letter to MSPs last month:

‘We remain committed to doing this through ongoing engagement with local government, NHS and trade union partners and by taking a co-design approach involving those receiving and delivering services.’

She added that, while the delivery mechanisms for the NCS ‘may now be different’, the vision of the service remains the same.

Now writing to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, she confirms that the government has committed to providing ‘sufficient information’ on timescales to ensure the Committee can effectively consider the proposals.

The minster says that if parliament agrees with the Bill’s general principles at stage 1, the Scottish government will work with the Committee to agree an appropriate deadline for stage 2.

Read more: Questioning “fundamentally changed” NCS; Children services need more than structural change; Editorial: 2024 offers a fresh start for the NCS; Carers facing full force of health and care crisis; Outstanding questions stall NCS scrutiny

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