The National Care Service Bill has passed the first stage at Holyrood.

MSPs have voted 65 to 50 in favour of backing the general principles of the government’s proposals.

The Bill was backed last week by the majority of Holyrood’s health committee, despite concerns around the lack of detail of how the service will work in practice.

The committee plans to carry out ‘substantial further scrutiny’ of the proposals at stage 2, and has asked the government for more detail on the revised proposals.

Minister for social care Maree Todd reiterated her commitment at Thursday’s parliament debate to give more information to MSPs as soon as possible.

Of the Bill passing, she said:

“We need long-term, widespread transformation to fix some of the ingrained issues within the system and ensure sustainability for the future. We have spent considerable time working with people with lived experience on how to reform social care for the better. I’m grateful to the thousands of people who have lent their voices and I am determined to ensure the Bill delivers the positive change needed.

“Today’s vote shows that the Scottish Parliament also recognises this and I am grateful to them for bringing us one step closer to this urgent reform.

“This Bill is the biggest public sector reform since devolution and it is our chance to make meaningful change that we all agree is needed to the social care system. I know the people of Scotland will see huge benefits.”

Read more about the scrutiny of the National Care Service so far:  A timeline of Scotland’s National Care Service; Questions for “fundamentally changed” NCS

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