Meeting of the Parliament 17 January 2024
I think that we have a clear idea of the legislation going forward, and I am more than happy to articulate that case to the Parliament right now.
There has been weekly engagement between the Scottish Government, COSLA and the NHS since last summer. Those weekly talks have been built on the shared accountability consensus that was reached on 30 June last year, and they have created a collaborative proposal for a revised version of the national care service.
Subject to the will of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government proposes to make amendments to the bill at stage 2 in response to evidence that was taken at stage 1 and on-going feedback from stakeholders. I believe that our proposals for changing the bill at stage 2 are a highly reasonable and balanced proposition. As far as possible, they accommodate the various stakeholders’ positions while ensuring that we can still effect the real change and improvements that people who use social care services today require and deserve.
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and the Finance and Public Administration Committee asked for further information, which I provided in early December, before Christmas. I also provided a substantial and robust package of material, including an updated financial memorandum and an updated business case. We are committed to working with the parliamentary committees. I have already committed to the lead committee to provide information on the Scottish Government’s proposed amendments in a timescale that enables it to consider that information to the level that is needed.