Meeting of the Parliament 03 December 2025
That is not directly related to social care, but of course I am aware of the issue. I spoke about the issue on BBC Radio Scotland’s “Breakfast” programme this morning. I understand the situation, and I have asked for proper collaboration to happen between Great Ormond Street and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that Brie can get the treatment and support that she needs.
I do not shirk the Government’s responsibility to work to improve social care. We are delivering on the commitments of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, which was passed by the Parliament, and we will establish a national social work agency by spring 2026. I am very open to working collaboratively on the issue with anyone in the chamber who wants to do so.
Despite Labour’s claims of what it would do in power, I note that, far short of £15 an hour for social care workers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, did not mention social care once in her budget speech last week.
Vic Rayner, the chief executive of the National Care Forum, said that
“the truth is that the cupboard is bare”
and that the
“budget which neither recognises the contribution or the real cost of adult social care”
feels like
“a missed opportunity”.
I must point out the glaring hypocrisy that is on display from the Labour Party today. Jackie Baillie spoke about recruitment challenges, but it is her party that has presided over some of the most restrictive migration policies that are delivering a hammer blow to social care.