Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2016
04 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Carers (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I want to highlight the importance of carers centres in providing continued support to carers who have suffered bereavement. Many of those centres, including south-west Glasgow carers centre in my constituency, provide that service and support instinctively, and I have seen for myself evidence of carers who have continued to be supported by them. The question is how those centres can be fully supported to do the work that they know needs to be done, and that is not just a matter of legislation, but a question of giving them support.
Secondly, I seek some reassurance. There is no doubt that elderly parents with a child who has, for example, a learning disability know that there will come a time when they are not there, and they will want support for their child or loved one. Too often, however, dealing with that issue is left until a death happens and there is a crisis. What steps can be taken to ensure that such planning is done early and that there is provision in which parents can have the confidence that allows an individual to move into different kinds of supported accommodation while their parents are still around to support them in that change? Too often it feels that we respond to the crisis that arises instead of planning for the inevitability of the event, and I think that it would reassure a lot of elderly carers if that intervention happened earlier.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Carers (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill as amended at st...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Unusually, I am not sure whether your microphone is on. I am having considerable difficulty hearing you, which might ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you, Mr Carlaw. I will take the muffler off my microphone; apparently I am usually very loud. I will try to speak more into the microphone, and perhaps...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Group 1 is on the meaning of “young carer”. Amendment 21, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is the only amendment in the group.
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would never have dreamed of putting a muffler on your microphone. Amendment 21 was lodged because of concerns from the Scott...
The Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
The definition of young carer that is presently on the face of the bill aligns with the named person service provisions as set out in the Children and Young ...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Given the reassurances that regulations will cover the point that amendment 21 would deal with, I would like to withdraw it. Amendment 21, by agreement, wit...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Group 2 is on the exercise of functions and taking account of equalities matters. Amendment 1, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is grouped with amendments 3, 5, 7...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
These amendments arose from evidence about the needs of carers from different ethnic backgrounds. The way in which support is provided to carers has sometime...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I thank Ms Grant for lodging the amendments. As she said, we worked together between stages 2 and 3 to ensure that the amendments reinforce the importance of...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I thank the minister for those comments. These amendments are very important. Amendment 1 agreed to.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Group 3 is on the preparation of adult carer support plans and young carer statements in relation to the delegation of functions. Amendment 22, in the name o...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Amendments 22 and 25 make it possible for a local authority to allow a voluntary organisation or indeed any other organisation to complete the adult carer su...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I fully support the intention behind the amendments. I see great merit in carer centres and other third sector organisations being involved in the preparatio...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I have listened carefully to what the minister has said. Given his reassurance that section 25 covers the matter, I seek leave to withdraw amendment 22. Ame...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The next group of amendments concerns timescales for the preparation of adult carer support plans and young carer statements. Amendment 2, in the name of the...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Amendments 2 and 6 are designed to provide absolute clarity about our intentions: they replace “may” with “must” in sections 6A and 11A, so that those sectio...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I welcome the Government’s amendments, which strengthen the wording in the bill. My amendments 23 and 26 make it clear that the Scottish Government can set t...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I thank Rhoda Grant for her question, which is a fair one. I re-emphasise the point that I made in my opening remarks, that, since the bill was first present...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Group 5 is on information about future arrangements, including bereavement support. Amendment 4, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is grouped with amendments 24, 8...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Amendments 4 and 8 seek to allow for the planning statement to contain information on the future care arrangements for a cared-for person. We will all have c...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I speak in support of amendments 14, 24 and 27. When a carer loses a loved one or someone to whom they have become emotionally attached through caring for th...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Lab
I want to highlight the importance of carers centres in providing continued support to carers who have suffered bereavement. Many of those centres, including...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I thank Ms Grant for lodging these amendments. I recognise that future care planning is just as important as emergency care planning to a carer’s health and ...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Does the minister recognise that there is a continuum for a person who has cared for, cares for and then loses someone? Because they are living with the cons...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I absolutely agree with the point that Johann Lamont has made. I suppose that my point is that we are not just expressing sentiments, but are making the law....
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am listening carefully to what the minister is saying. Does he think that it would be appropriate to put in place guidance for local authorities to ensure ...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Again, I am quite happy to reflect on that suggestion. It is essential that we have good guidance that covers all eventualities. I have clearly made the poin...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I listened carefully to what the minister said about amendments 24 and 27, as I know that we are all concerned about the support that carers get when they fa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Group 6 is on local eligibility criteria: role of the Scottish ministers. Amendment 28, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is grouped with amendments 29 to 31. I po...