Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
19 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Care Home Deposit Fees
Deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual. The Scottish Government is not party to such contracts. However, in recognition of the importance that the Scottish Government places on the sector, our budget for the forthcoming financial year sets out investment of more than £2.3 billion for social care, which delivers on our commitment to increase funding by 25 per cent by the end of this session of Parliament. In 2026-27, it will exceed that by more than £0.5 billion.
In the same item of business
5. Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to regulate deposit fees in care homes. (S6F-04773)
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
Deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual. The Scottish Government is not party to such contracts. However, in r...
Edward Mountain
Con
Many care homes do not charge deposits, but when they do, the deposit can be up to three months of costs, which could be in excess of £20,000 per resident. T...
The First Minister
SNP
I am very sympathetic to Mr Mountain’s point. I can understand that a reasonable deposit might be required, but it feels unreasonable to require an excessive...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
While Westminster parties are lurching to the right and their policies on immigration are having a catastrophic impact on Scotland’s care homes and social ca...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That is wide of the substantive question. Given that, I will move on.