Hansard

I would really like to make some progress—we have all had a chance to have our say.

The bill introduces Anne’s law, which will make a groundbreaking change by ensuring that the family and friends of people in care homes are seen not simply as visitors but as an essential part of the care team. The bill contains a legal presumption that suspending visiting is likely to cause serious harm to their loved one’s health and wellbeing.

The bill also contains a new right to breaks for unpaid carers to protect their health and wellbeing by giving them the rest that they need. There is expanded access to independent advocacy for our most vulnerable citizens to ensure that their voices are heard in decisions about their care. We are improving the flow of information across care settings so that people do not have to share their stories multiple times.

The bill also establishes a national chief social work adviser role to provide professional leadership and champion the sector. They will lead a new national social work agency, which will advance and advocate for the profession, and there will be new powers to improve social care procurement, including a new route for the third sector.

We know that we must improve the system for lasting progress to be made across Scotland, and in order to do that, it is vital that our hard-working and dedicated workforce feel engaged, supported and valued for their important work.

We are working hard to introduce voluntary sectoral bargaining for the care sector through the fair work in social care group. We continue to drive that work forward while we wait for the UK Government legislation to extend devolved powers. In the meantime, we are supporting the sector with funding to deliver the real living wage—I think that the bill for that is £950 million this year—so that care workers are paid what they deserve.

Despite an incredibly challenging financial situation, the Scottish Government has prioritised investment in social care, including almost £2.2 billion in social care and integration, exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25 per cent over this session of Parliament by more than £350 million. There is more than £88 million a year in local carer support through funding to councils under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, £13 million a year for voluntary sector short breaks, a further £13.4 million to support growth in the independent living fund and £5.9 million of additional investment in the Care Inspectorate.

Despite our increased investment, we know that the social care sector is dealing with heavy and entirely avoidable financial pressure, thanks to the Labour UK Government’s decision to increase employer national insurance contributions and to lower the threshold at which employers start to pay them. That short-sighted and reckless decision is estimated to cost the adult social care sector more than £84 million in Scotland alone.

I have heard loudly and clearly from the sector that the UK Government must fully fund the cost of the national insurance hike to alleviate the pressure that the sector is under. I echo those calls, and the Scottish Government will continue to apply pressure.

I have listened to the debate in the chamber today, and I understand the strong feelings that many members hold. We have worked tirelessly to balance the concerns that were raised in Parliament with the urgent needs of the people in Scotland. This legislation reflects our shared commitment to strengthening social care, social work and community health. People who access social care, their families and everyone who supports them cannot wait any longer for the changes that they urgently need.

That shared commitment is no better embodied than by Anne’s law. For almost two years, at the end of her life, Anne Duke was denied the companionship and the touch of the people whom she loved. As her husband Campbell wrote,

“At your time of greatest need, they robbed you of the one thing you needed most—the unconditional love of your family and friends.”

This bill will make sure that no one else will ever again suffer the trauma and harm that were experienced by Anne, by her loved ones and by so many families across the country during lockdown. I urge members to support the bill.