Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 November 2011
23 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Carers and Young Carers Strategy
Thank you, Presiding Officer—I will try to be as succinct as possible in order to let other colleagues in. I see that members are laughing, but I promise that I will.
As has been mentioned today, 657,000 Scots are carers, and no doubt every one of us knows individuals who care for someone. In my area of Renfrewshire, there are 24,087 carers. I know that members are fed up with hearing about my personal circumstances—I just heard one of my colleagues say that—but I look after my wife, who has multiple sclerosis. I am technically her carer, but she would probably say that I have difficulty caring for myself. Luckily, I have a support mechanism in my family that enables me to do the job that I do. I am here partly because of that support, and partly because my wife Stacey Adam will not allow something as trivial as multiple sclerosis to prevent her from gaining any of the objectives that she wants in life.
However, other people who have to work in the private sector or in the public sector do not have that support mechanism. In my constituency, Lynn Williams—who has already been mentioned a couple of times—works for a caring organisation, but she is able to do that only because her employer is extremely flexible in allowing her also to care for a member of her family.
It was an SNP manifesto commitment to have a carers kite mark for employers. I was extremely interested in that, and I know that the minister is working with officials on a scoping paper for discussion with carers interests, which he will produce at a later date. We need to ensure that all third sector and private sector employers look at that. Most carers want to work, and it is only because of their circumstances that some of them can no longer work.
As the minister has said, it is important that we get all these things right. I have every confidence that we will and that we will progress with the implementation of the carers strategy. I will go through some of the recommendations of “Caring Together”. It is important that we develop a carers’ rights charter and implement measures to identify carers better. A lot of carers are invisible and people do not know about them because, as has been mentioned, it is natural for families to take up the burden; they do not see it as a burden—they are just looking after their family member.
It is also important that we improve the quality and uptake of carer assessments and support plans; that goes back to what I mentioned earlier. Renfrewshire Carers Centre and carers centres elsewhere have been mentioned, and it is extremely important that we ensure that carers are represented on community health partnerships, as that will be a way for them to help to design the packages and what is available for carers in their areas.
“Getting it Right for Young Carers” recommends that we put in place measures to help professionals in education. I particularly liked the minister’s announcement of the pilot areas for the young carers authorisation card. I know that he has already identified one area, but there are at least 24,000 carers in Renfrewshire and I wonder whether he has thought of Renfrewshire as a place to pilot that measure for young carers as well.
One of my constituents, Sandra Webster, is a young woman with two autistic sons. She also has a daughter in sixth year who, last week, was brought in front of the headmaster and accused of being a truant because she was helping her mother. The school knew about her position, as did the local authority and her MSP. We should not get ourselves into such situations. That young woman is trying to get academic qualifications while helping her mother, who has admitted that she could not do anything without her daughter being there.
During the election campaign, we visited Renfrewshire Carers Centre and met the carers there. I was confident in the SNP manifesto and told people, “We’re dealing with your lives. You are the individuals who are dealing with this on a day-to-day basis. Yes, I have problems in my life, but I’m not in your shoes and don’t have to live your life. I will do all that I can as your representative to get your points across.”
The most important element in the debate is the human element. We can shout at each other from opposite sides of the chamber—although we have not done that today—but we must remain focused on the people who are living with these issues: young people, older people and family members. I always mention my personal circumstances because they have made me the man that I am, but I am not the important person in this debate—none of us is as important in this debate as the individuals who are dealing with these issues or the outcomes that we achieve from the debate. I want to live in a Scotland in which people attain everything that they can. I believe that, after today’s debate, we can work together to achieve the goals that we have set for Scotland’s carers.
16:14
As has been mentioned today, 657,000 Scots are carers, and no doubt every one of us knows individuals who care for someone. In my area of Renfrewshire, there are 24,087 carers. I know that members are fed up with hearing about my personal circumstances—I just heard one of my colleagues say that—but I look after my wife, who has multiple sclerosis. I am technically her carer, but she would probably say that I have difficulty caring for myself. Luckily, I have a support mechanism in my family that enables me to do the job that I do. I am here partly because of that support, and partly because my wife Stacey Adam will not allow something as trivial as multiple sclerosis to prevent her from gaining any of the objectives that she wants in life.
However, other people who have to work in the private sector or in the public sector do not have that support mechanism. In my constituency, Lynn Williams—who has already been mentioned a couple of times—works for a caring organisation, but she is able to do that only because her employer is extremely flexible in allowing her also to care for a member of her family.
It was an SNP manifesto commitment to have a carers kite mark for employers. I was extremely interested in that, and I know that the minister is working with officials on a scoping paper for discussion with carers interests, which he will produce at a later date. We need to ensure that all third sector and private sector employers look at that. Most carers want to work, and it is only because of their circumstances that some of them can no longer work.
As the minister has said, it is important that we get all these things right. I have every confidence that we will and that we will progress with the implementation of the carers strategy. I will go through some of the recommendations of “Caring Together”. It is important that we develop a carers’ rights charter and implement measures to identify carers better. A lot of carers are invisible and people do not know about them because, as has been mentioned, it is natural for families to take up the burden; they do not see it as a burden—they are just looking after their family member.
It is also important that we improve the quality and uptake of carer assessments and support plans; that goes back to what I mentioned earlier. Renfrewshire Carers Centre and carers centres elsewhere have been mentioned, and it is extremely important that we ensure that carers are represented on community health partnerships, as that will be a way for them to help to design the packages and what is available for carers in their areas.
“Getting it Right for Young Carers” recommends that we put in place measures to help professionals in education. I particularly liked the minister’s announcement of the pilot areas for the young carers authorisation card. I know that he has already identified one area, but there are at least 24,000 carers in Renfrewshire and I wonder whether he has thought of Renfrewshire as a place to pilot that measure for young carers as well.
One of my constituents, Sandra Webster, is a young woman with two autistic sons. She also has a daughter in sixth year who, last week, was brought in front of the headmaster and accused of being a truant because she was helping her mother. The school knew about her position, as did the local authority and her MSP. We should not get ourselves into such situations. That young woman is trying to get academic qualifications while helping her mother, who has admitted that she could not do anything without her daughter being there.
During the election campaign, we visited Renfrewshire Carers Centre and met the carers there. I was confident in the SNP manifesto and told people, “We’re dealing with your lives. You are the individuals who are dealing with this on a day-to-day basis. Yes, I have problems in my life, but I’m not in your shoes and don’t have to live your life. I will do all that I can as your representative to get your points across.”
The most important element in the debate is the human element. We can shout at each other from opposite sides of the chamber—although we have not done that today—but we must remain focused on the people who are living with these issues: young people, older people and family members. I always mention my personal circumstances because they have made me the man that I am, but I am not the important person in this debate—none of us is as important in this debate as the individuals who are dealing with these issues or the outcomes that we achieve from the debate. I want to live in a Scotland in which people attain everything that they can. I believe that, after today’s debate, we can work together to achieve the goals that we have set for Scotland’s carers.
16:14
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01399, in the name of Michael Matheson, on implementation of the carers and young carers strategy.14:33
The Minister for Public Health (Michael Matheson)
SNP
I open the debate by acknowledging the huge commitment and support that is provided by Scotland’s estimated 650,000 carers and up to 100,000 young carers. Un...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I certainly do not doubt the minister’s intention, but how is the Government going to monitor the situation to ensure that that happens? It is what happens o...
Michael Matheson
SNP
We have 32 local delivery change plans in place. They must be signed off by the health board, the local authority and the third sector. When a bid is made fo...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Richard Simpson to speak to and move amendment S4M-1399.3. Dr Simpson, you have 10 minutes. 14:48
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this opportunity to open and close this important debate. My colleague Claire Baker will talk in more detail about child and student carers, as wel...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
With regard to the financial impact, does Dr Simpson share my regret that the carers allowance remains such a pitiful sum, and excludes many carers—particula...
Dr Simpson
Lab
I agree with Mark McDonald on that, and I add that the Welfare Reform Bill will not help matters, because some carers will lose their allowance as people wil...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member needs to wind up.
Dr Simpson
Lab
We acknowledge the Government’s motion.I move amendment S4M-01399.3, to leave out from “agrees” to end and insert:“further acknowledges promises in successiv...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
In recognising the enormous contribution that carers and young carers make to society and to the Scottish economy through the considerable sums of money that...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
If we asked for a show of hands from members who are either carers or who know of someone close to them who is a carer, we would have an almost 100 per cent ...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
The minister made it clear in his speech just how much the Scottish Government recognises the debt that Scotland owes to its carers and the huge role that th...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate on carers. My family chose to be carers—they made a positive decision to take on the responsibility of ...
Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
First, I declare an interest as co-convener of the current cross-party group on carers, having been a deputy convener of the group in session 3 of the Parlia...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I very much welcome the strategy and the strong statement of intent that it contains. It is clear from what the minister has said, and indeed from the increa...
Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
When I read the Government’s carers strategy, one passage immediately stood out:“Carers are ... fundamental to strong families and partnerships and to resili...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I suspend the meeting until the sound gets sorted out.15:35 Meeting suspended. 15:44 On resuming—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
If members are sitting comfortably, we will begin again. I invite Siobhan McMahon to resume at an appropriate place in her speech; we will be generous with t...
Siobhan McMahon
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I apologise for breaking the system.A recurrent problem with Government strategies is the glaring contrast between the words on...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
I am aware of X and I am glad that Siobhan McMahon has raised her case. Does the member agree that sometimes the intention to help people does not work out? ...
Siobhan McMahon
Lab
I could not agree more. Those problems will develop as we go forward in life, as challenges face us.Local authorities must view the provision of short breaks...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I am sorry about the interruption. I call Fiona McLeod, who will have a very tight six minutes. Others may have to reduce their speeches.15:50
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Last Friday, I was at the Carers Link East Dunbartonshire annual general meeting. In the past year, Carers Link East Dunbartonshire has identified and suppor...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I would like to look at the issue in the context of the fact that my wife and I are now both carers for an extremely elderly relative. I acknowledge that our...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this opportunity to speak in the debate on the Government’s strategy for carers, especially as carers’ rights day will take place on Friday 2 Decem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The member must conclude, please.
Margaret McCulloch
Lab
—but they are all to be praised for the service that they give and the sacrifices that they make.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call George Adam, who has a maximum of six minutes.16:08
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer—I will try to be as succinct as possible in order to let other colleagues in. I see that members are laughing, but I promise tha...