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
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. That means that some individual care homes are sitting on, and earning interest on, £1 million-worth of deposits.
It has taken constituents of mine whose relatives have died in care homes so long to have their deposit returned, while trying to mourn their relatives, that they have had to resort to legal action to get the deposit back. Does the First Minister think that that is acceptable? If not, what action will he recommend that my constituents take?
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.