The Scottish government is to delay scrutiny of its flagship legislation to create a National Care Service for Scotland in a move which may lead to the plans having to be abandoned.

Faced with decisions by local councils, trade unions and the Scottish Green Party to withdraw support for the National Care Service Bill, Scotland’s Minister for Social Care has written to the committee leading scrutiny of the legislation asking for them to pause the process until the New Year.

In a letter to Clare Haughey, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee released this morning, Maree Todd writes that the government is no longer looking to begin the next stage of scrutiny later this month, as previously planned:

‘The Scottish government remains committed to the plans for a National Care Service, and work continues to progress this as quickly and effectively as possible.

‘That work involves careful consideration of the views of this committee, stakeholders, members of the public and political parties.

‘The Scottish Government wishes to take the time that is needed to fully reflect those views in our approach to Stage 2 of the Bill. 

‘For those reasons the Scottish Government is not seeking to start Stage 2 consideration of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill on 26 November, and will work with the committee and Parliamentary Bureau to agree a revised timetable, for the New Year.’

The Scottish government had introduced amendments to the Bill at the start of its line-by-line Stage 2 scrutiny, including dropping provision for Anne’s Law rights for care home relatives.

Although health secretary Neil Gray stated last month that his door is open for those unhappy with the proposals to discuss them, organisations and unions who have publicly withdrawn their support do not appear to have accepted his offer.

Time running out

The decision to push back scrutiny increases the risk that the Bill will not complete its passage through parliament before the Scottish election in 2026.

First Minister John Swinney told the Scottish parliament earlier today that the government is simply taking time to listen to ensure ministers get the proposals right.

At First Ministers Question Time, Mr Swinney said the proposals for a National Care Service to address unacceptable variation in provision across Scotland are widely supported by care users and their families.

The leaders of the main opposition parties called for the Bill to be scrapped.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP said the plans should be “binned”, and that the £29m already spent had been “wasted” where it could have been spent on frontline services.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP echoed the call for the “power grab” proposals to be “ditched” and added that the amount spent  already could have paid for one million care at home hours.

Mr Sarwar said the Scottish government should instead focus on delivering Anne’s Law and funding respite for carers, while Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said the government should instead invest in supporting family carers.

Meanwhile, Roz Foyer, General Secretary at the Scottish Trade Union Congress – which withdrew its support for the Bill last month –  welcomed the news as being a victory for workers in the care sector, adding that the need for social care reform remains:

“The Bill, as it stands, was deeply flawed and had lost the confidence of workers and other sector partners. It does nothing to address the key weaknesses within the current system – low pay, insecure conditions, chronic staff retention and a complete overdependence on highly financialised, profit-driven providers.”

 

See the full picture: The healthandcare.scot NCS timeline

Read more: Social workers warn of harm from care power row; Council exit frees seat at NCS table for care sector; Campaigners question Anne’s Law volte-face

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