Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 October 2010
28 Oct 2010 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Carers and Young Carers Strategy
Like the minister, I welcome this debate on carers and the publication of the carers and young carers strategy.
As the minister pointed out, some 657,000 people are carers, and 100,000 are young carers. That is a significant part of the population. They make a huge contribution to their families and to society as a whole. As the minister said, the value that they give is around £7.68 billion each year. That is a truly staggering figure.
The Government and COSLA are to be commended for producing the strategy, and Labour members agree with the main actions that have been outlined. It is essential that we improve information and advice, properly establish the number of carers that there are so that we can identify and assess their needs, and, of course, ensure that the assistance that they need to support their caring is in place.
The strategy is right, but we need clarity about how it will be implemented. I am delighted that the minister will cover that in her closing speech. The strategy will be deemed a success only if it actually makes a difference to people’s experiences on the ground in their communities. Therefore, will the minister tell us how local authorities and health boards will be held to account, how the implementation of the strategy will be monitored, and whether she intends that there will be annual reports to the Parliament on progress? That would strengthen the importance that we attach to the strategy and its implementation.
The funding that has been put in place for carers information strategies has, of course, been welcomed on the ground, but it will come to an end in March 2011. It would be helpful to know whether the minister is confident that that funding will continue at the same level that it has been at previously. Labour members will certainly support all her efforts in government to secure that funding for the future. Such funding has undoubtedly helped carers with training on how to manage their caring role, deal with the stress and take care of their own health and wellbeing, and it has had substantial local benefits. Carers have been identified, new partnerships have been forged with primary and acute care services, and advice and information has been provided. For that to be sustained, certainty over future funding of carer information strategies is desirable.
Secondly, I welcome the funding that has been provided for carer training—national carer organisations have been awarded some £281,000. Although that is helpful, the way forward is undoubtedly a national consortium to develop carer training across the board, and there is concern about what will happen to that money in the future. I note, too, that NHS Education for Scotland has an annual budget of some £389 million for training for health professionals. I invite the minister to try to squeeze out a little bit more money for carer training, which I think would have great value.
I turn to short breaks and respite care. Despite the welcome progress on increasing the number of respite weeks that are provided for adults, the figures on respite breaks for children are going in the wrong direction. More worryingly, cuts are beginning to be made at a local level. Local authorities are reducing the budget for respite care, some are changing their eligibility criteria and others are providing respite only when there is a crisis.
I know that Shared Care Scotland has been funded by the Scottish Government to undertake research on current respite planning and delivery, which will help to inform future action. I suspect that it will show the problems that I have described: the tightening of eligibility criteria to save resources and a lack of recognition that providing respite is a positive preventive measure that enables a carer to carry on caring for their loved ones. The real progress that has been made on that is being put at risk. Respite provision is beginning to be seen as a measure that should be deployed only in a crisis, rather than as a preventive measure. What action can the minister take to prevent the welcome progress that has been made on the number of respite weeks that are provided from unravelling and going backwards?
As well as promising an increase in the number of respite weeks, the Scottish National Party promised to ensure that
“By 2011 carers in greatest need will have a guaranteed annual entitlement to breaks from caring.”
I have searched, but I have not found evidence of that commitment being taken forward. I can see no progress on meeting that guarantee, which would be welcomed by carers and Labour members alike.
As the minister pointed out, some 657,000 people are carers, and 100,000 are young carers. That is a significant part of the population. They make a huge contribution to their families and to society as a whole. As the minister said, the value that they give is around £7.68 billion each year. That is a truly staggering figure.
The Government and COSLA are to be commended for producing the strategy, and Labour members agree with the main actions that have been outlined. It is essential that we improve information and advice, properly establish the number of carers that there are so that we can identify and assess their needs, and, of course, ensure that the assistance that they need to support their caring is in place.
The strategy is right, but we need clarity about how it will be implemented. I am delighted that the minister will cover that in her closing speech. The strategy will be deemed a success only if it actually makes a difference to people’s experiences on the ground in their communities. Therefore, will the minister tell us how local authorities and health boards will be held to account, how the implementation of the strategy will be monitored, and whether she intends that there will be annual reports to the Parliament on progress? That would strengthen the importance that we attach to the strategy and its implementation.
The funding that has been put in place for carers information strategies has, of course, been welcomed on the ground, but it will come to an end in March 2011. It would be helpful to know whether the minister is confident that that funding will continue at the same level that it has been at previously. Labour members will certainly support all her efforts in government to secure that funding for the future. Such funding has undoubtedly helped carers with training on how to manage their caring role, deal with the stress and take care of their own health and wellbeing, and it has had substantial local benefits. Carers have been identified, new partnerships have been forged with primary and acute care services, and advice and information has been provided. For that to be sustained, certainty over future funding of carer information strategies is desirable.
Secondly, I welcome the funding that has been provided for carer training—national carer organisations have been awarded some £281,000. Although that is helpful, the way forward is undoubtedly a national consortium to develop carer training across the board, and there is concern about what will happen to that money in the future. I note, too, that NHS Education for Scotland has an annual budget of some £389 million for training for health professionals. I invite the minister to try to squeeze out a little bit more money for carer training, which I think would have great value.
I turn to short breaks and respite care. Despite the welcome progress on increasing the number of respite weeks that are provided for adults, the figures on respite breaks for children are going in the wrong direction. More worryingly, cuts are beginning to be made at a local level. Local authorities are reducing the budget for respite care, some are changing their eligibility criteria and others are providing respite only when there is a crisis.
I know that Shared Care Scotland has been funded by the Scottish Government to undertake research on current respite planning and delivery, which will help to inform future action. I suspect that it will show the problems that I have described: the tightening of eligibility criteria to save resources and a lack of recognition that providing respite is a positive preventive measure that enables a carer to carry on caring for their loved ones. The real progress that has been made on that is being put at risk. Respite provision is beginning to be seen as a measure that should be deployed only in a crisis, rather than as a preventive measure. What action can the minister take to prevent the welcome progress that has been made on the number of respite weeks that are provided from unravelling and going backwards?
As well as promising an increase in the number of respite weeks, the Scottish National Party promised to ensure that
“By 2011 carers in greatest need will have a guaranteed annual entitlement to breaks from caring.”
I have searched, but I have not found evidence of that commitment being taken forward. I can see no progress on meeting that guarantee, which would be welcomed by carers and Labour members alike.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-7272, in the name of Shona Robison, on the carers and young carers strategy.14:56
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
We came into government with a strong commitment to develop a new carers strategy for Scotland. The aim was to build on the considerable progress that had be...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
LD
Obviously, the Liberal Democrats welcome what the minister has just said, but how does she intend to audit the outcomes once the process that she describes h...
Shona Robison
SNP
There will be a robust auditing process, as there always is with the third sector. The third sector is well placed to be able to deliver innovative thinking....
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Like the minister, I welcome this debate on carers and the publication of the carers and young carers strategy.As the minister pointed out, some 657,000 peop...
Shona Robison
SNP
I have been quite up front in saying to carer organisations that in the current economic climate, funding such an entitlement is extremely challenging. We wo...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I thank the minister for her honesty. In the context of the economic climate, perhaps we could discuss self-directed support. A commitment was made to extend...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The previous Scottish Executive introduced a strategy for carers in 1999 to improve the information on help and support for carers; to improve local services...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
The member should conclude.
Mary Scanlon
Con
Finally, I hope that the Government will continue to support direct payments.15:23
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD)
LD
This is one among a number of the issues that are debated in this chamber for which it is self-evident that there is a broad measure of cross-party support, ...
Shona Robison
SNP
I take it from that that the member supports pooled budgets, the level of which we are negotiating at the moment. I take it that the member supports that dir...
Ross Finnie
LD
I will be happy to support it provided that I can see the mechanisms that will support it. Allocating sums of money is helpful, and it would be churlish to s...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
Over the years, we have gradually continued to get a better picture of the job that unpaid carers do in Scotland, and of the scale of that job, and we contin...
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the comments that Bob Doris has made and I think that it is important that we get some consensus around this issue. Does he agree that one of the w...
Bob Doris
SNP
I thank Cathy Jamieson for her comment but, although that is the outcome at the local level, the premise is completely inaccurate. Way before the kinship car...
Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to debate carers issues. I fully support the motion in the name of the Minister for Public Health and Sport, particularly the closi...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
As always, it is a privilege to speak in a debate about carers, because they are the unsung heroes of the society in which we live. It might not sit comforta...
Bob Doris
SNP
The member is quite right in what he says about resources and, of course, we always need more, but are the resources that are spent at the local level always...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
I have some sympathy with the member’s point. All too often, and despite the person-centred planning approach, which many members in the chamber will know ab...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I want to talk about a specific element of caring that Jackie Baillie touched on in her contribution: the thousands of older people who continue to care in t...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the carers and young carers strategy, the partnership approach to developing the strategy, and indeed the minister’s commitment to make it work. It...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Cathy Jamieson. She has two minutes.15:59
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab)
Lab
I will be brief, as I have only two points to put on the record. The first is about young people who are in families where drugs and alcohol are being misuse...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
LD
I am not returning to this place next May and this debate is a good example of why I will miss it—we have heard thoughtful speeches from all sides of the cha...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome what has been an extremely important debate on the Scottish Government’s carers and young carers strategy, which follows on from a debate on the is...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
I note what the member says about statutory provision of services. Generally, does she agree that, if there is a strategy in any area of activity for which a...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Absolutely—and other members have made that point. I ask the minister to confirm how the outcome-based approach will help to address the current postcode lot...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to make Labour’s final contribution to this debate on the carers and young carers strategies. It has been an excellent debate, with good contrib...
Shona Robison
SNP
I thank all members who took part in the debate. There were a number of positive and constructive speeches. It is clear that all parties acknowledge the impa...