Chamber
Plenary, 25 Nov 1999
25 Nov 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Carers Strategy
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will try to be brief.
Iain Gray said that one of the first events he attended as a minister was a carers event. I wonder whether it was the event that I attended with him, at the Marryat Hall in Dundee. He made a commitment at that time to introduce the strategy. I made a more modest commitment to hold a special surgery for carers in Dundee and I did so recently at the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre.
Many people came along, some of them giving up precious respite time to do so. People came with specific problems, but a general theme emerged. The first thing that struck me was that carers were asking for very little. I thought that people would make many more demands, but often they wanted a couple of hours off just to do shopping, to visit a friend or go to the cinema, or to have some breathing space.
The other thing that came through quite strongly was that although carers' needs are sometimes met in terms of time off, there is a lack of appropriate respite from day care. That is particularly so in cases involving young adults with learning difficulties and people with early onset dementia. Many of the facilities that are provided are for the elderly and infirm and are not suitable for younger and more active people.
At a meeting with Dundee City Council's social work office, it became clear to me that there is a commitment to improving the lot of carers. The office had just published a report called "Breaking New Ground", which was the result of the work of a short-term working group. It identified lack of funding as a problem, so I welcome the minister's announcement about the grant-aided expenditure allocation being doubled to £10 million— notwithstanding the fact that it comes within the £40 million increase for social work that has already been announced. I hope that if there are to be increases in GAE in the future, it might be possible to find new money for them.
I would be grateful if Mr Gray could say in his summing-up how the additional GAE will be allocated and what the criteria for allocation will be. I am not clear about the mechanism that will ensure that the additional GAE is spent where it is intended to be spent. The carers strategy document suggests that there might be a possibility of conflict between local authorities and carers groups.
I welcome the fact that there will be wide consultation, but I hope that in addition to consulting carers organisations, the Executive will take on board the fact that because of their particular problems, carers will need assistance with participating in consultation and discussion.
My final point—on which I do not expect an answer now from the minister—is important and I hope that the Executive will take it on board. I welcome the strong emphasis on the need to support young carers. That area has been overlooked in the past. Young people with caring responsibilities have been neglected in terms of their social and educational needs. I plead that the minister will extend the definition of young carers to those aged 16 to 18. I hope that that can be examined closely. The youth care group in Dundee, which Iain Gray mentioned, supports young carers up to 18 years of age.
I welcome the report. I think that it sends out a good message to carers—that their views and opinions are at last being considered.
Iain Gray said that one of the first events he attended as a minister was a carers event. I wonder whether it was the event that I attended with him, at the Marryat Hall in Dundee. He made a commitment at that time to introduce the strategy. I made a more modest commitment to hold a special surgery for carers in Dundee and I did so recently at the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre.
Many people came along, some of them giving up precious respite time to do so. People came with specific problems, but a general theme emerged. The first thing that struck me was that carers were asking for very little. I thought that people would make many more demands, but often they wanted a couple of hours off just to do shopping, to visit a friend or go to the cinema, or to have some breathing space.
The other thing that came through quite strongly was that although carers' needs are sometimes met in terms of time off, there is a lack of appropriate respite from day care. That is particularly so in cases involving young adults with learning difficulties and people with early onset dementia. Many of the facilities that are provided are for the elderly and infirm and are not suitable for younger and more active people.
At a meeting with Dundee City Council's social work office, it became clear to me that there is a commitment to improving the lot of carers. The office had just published a report called "Breaking New Ground", which was the result of the work of a short-term working group. It identified lack of funding as a problem, so I welcome the minister's announcement about the grant-aided expenditure allocation being doubled to £10 million— notwithstanding the fact that it comes within the £40 million increase for social work that has already been announced. I hope that if there are to be increases in GAE in the future, it might be possible to find new money for them.
I would be grateful if Mr Gray could say in his summing-up how the additional GAE will be allocated and what the criteria for allocation will be. I am not clear about the mechanism that will ensure that the additional GAE is spent where it is intended to be spent. The carers strategy document suggests that there might be a possibility of conflict between local authorities and carers groups.
I welcome the fact that there will be wide consultation, but I hope that in addition to consulting carers organisations, the Executive will take on board the fact that because of their particular problems, carers will need assistance with participating in consultation and discussion.
My final point—on which I do not expect an answer now from the minister—is important and I hope that the Executive will take it on board. I welcome the strong emphasis on the need to support young carers. That area has been overlooked in the past. Young people with caring responsibilities have been neglected in terms of their social and educational needs. I plead that the minister will extend the definition of young carers to those aged 16 to 18. I hope that that can be examined closely. The youth care group in Dundee, which Iain Gray mentioned, supports young carers up to 18 years of age.
I welcome the report. I think that it sends out a good message to carers—that their views and opinions are at last being considered.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-317, in the name of Iain Gray, on the Executive's commitment to the introduction of a carers strategy, an...
The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray):
Lab
I welcome to the public gallery carers who have travelled from all over Scotland to be here today. Given the caring responsibilities that they have, that rep...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I can now give an interim answer to the point of order that was raised by Kay Ullrich. I understand that the parliamentary question was asked by Lewis Macdon...
Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
welcome the sentiments that the minister has expressed. I am sure that carers across Scotland will join me in regarding this as a first step in the long-over...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
We welcome today's motion. I congratulate the minister and Kay Ullrich on their contributions to an evocative and important matter. The minister is also to b...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Mr Aitken says that the matter is not a question of finance and goes on to highlight the shortcomings in local government and the need to plough more money i...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Of course it is a question of finance, but it is also a question of enabling the people who might be on the periphery of making a contribution to do so. I do...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I join in the plaudits to the deputy minister, who has produced a good paper and brought it before the chamber in an unde...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
A number of members want to speak in this afternoon's debate. I ask members to keep their speeches as close as possible to four minutes.
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome today's debate. It is essential that our discussion of this issue is informed and constructive. We must move the carers agenda forward. The Scottis...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
Does the member for Airdrie and Shotts agree that the doubled allocation of resources for the provision of carers services, including respite care, displays ...
Karen Whitefield:
Lab
Yes, I agree.It is especially important that priority has been given to young carers. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 young carers in Scotland, a...
Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome the fact that we have highlighted young carers today and I wish to confine my remarks to that subject. I am glad that young carers are being ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I must begin by declaring that I still act as a medical adviser to foster carers in the former Central Region, now Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Th...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate this extremely important issue in Parliament. I will use my time to draw attention to the needs of the valuable people wh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
There is time for one more speaker. I call Kate MacLean; you have three minutes.
Kate MacLean (Dundee West) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will try to be brief. Iain Gray said that one of the first events he attended as a minister was a carers event. I wonder whet...
Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order. Might it be noted when we have important debates such as this in future that ministers should not make statements prior to the debate? P...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Thank you. I understand the point of order.
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I welcome the minister's comprehensive speech and, like all the other members who have spoken today, the strategy for carers. It is good that we have moved t...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
On a point of order. It has been the practice for the Presiding Officer to indicate the number of members who wanted to speak in the debate but were unsucces...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am not aware that that is a practice, Mr Sheridan. For your information, I believe that the number is three.
Tommy Sheridan:
SSP
Thank you.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Much of what I wanted to say has been said. I am delighted that there is such consensus on this issue. I would like to think that, whether in a small or in a...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the tone and substance of this debate. Members from all parts of the chamber have made good speeches. I am sure that the Minister for Health and Co...
Iain Gray:
Lab
Will Mr Hamilton give way?
Mr Hamilton:
SNP
I will not give way.The £5 million is a relaunch of money that has already been allocated. Welcome though that money is, let us not go down the track of sugg...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
Let me say at the outset how genuinely pleased and proud I am to be standing here today shoulder to shoulder with Iain Gray and other members of the Executiv...
Kay Ullrich:
SNP
When the minister met representatives of local authorities, did they assure her that they were receiving adequate funding to provide community care services?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
Perhaps this is the appropriate point at which to address the SNP amendment. Amendments such as the one that has been moved today are dishonest and disingenu...