Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
25 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
The significant cuts to social care provision that are coming into effect next month in North Ayrshire will mean that social care is restricted to critical risk as a result of a £9 million deficit. There is a similar situation in East Ayrshire, which has a £10 million deficit. Does the minister agree that those cuts are unacceptable and will cause real harm? Does he agree that, although there is clearly a wider discussion to be had about the funding that is needed for social care and how we provide it, steps need to be taken now to ensure that those cuts do not go ahead?
In the same item of business
5. Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to North Ayrshire health and social care partnership. (S6O-05705)
The Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing (Tom Arthur)
SNP
In 2026-27, North Ayrshire Council will receive £403.9 million to fund local services, which equates to an extra £20.1 million or an additional 5.2 per cent ...
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Demographic change and rising demand are placing ever greater strain on health and social care partnerships and the Scottish Government. From next Wednesday,...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I assure the member that all councils will receive their fair share of the currently undistributed sum of £107.5 million. We recognise that social care is un...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The significant cuts to social care provision that are coming into effect next month in North Ayrshire will mean that social care is restricted to critical r...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I recognise the concerns that the member raises. Similar concerns have been raised with me by many members about decisions that have been taken in their loca...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I advise the chamber that we will struggle to get in supplementaries if the questions and responses remain as long as they have been.