Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
Jackie Dunbar raises extremely important points. We all recognise that, both in Scotland and across the wider UK, there are significant systemic challenges in social care, in particular owing to demographic pressures and the cost of living crisis with which we have been contending for the past five years. That makes it very difficult to understand the rationale behind the UK Government’s approach to immigration with regard to social care and its decision on employer national insurance contributions, which we estimate is costing the sector around £84 million. That is not in the interests of social care in Scotland, and it is certainly not in the interests of social care elsewhere in the UK. I therefore urge the UK Government to think again on these matters; to recognise the invaluable contribution that overseas workers make, not just in social care but across our economy; and to act accordingly.