Chamber
Plenary, 07 Mar 2001
07 Mar 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I declare an interest in the matter, as a member of Unison and the mother of a student nursery nurse. I do not want anything to come back to haunt me later.
The principles of the bill are welcomed by people who are involved in social care, whether they are users, providers or members of staff. It is unfortunate that so much attention has been focused on services for elderly people, although the bill covers all aspects of social care. The number of establishments that relate to services for the elderly that come within the scope of the bill is small compared to the number of establishments and settings for children and young people's services. It is right and proper that all vulnerable people should be protected. The Labour party and individual members of it, some of whom are members of the Parliament, have campaigned for a significant number of years for the regulation of services and of those who deliver them.
Throughout the evidence-taking process, it has been stated that further clarification and strengthening of the bill is needed to ensure that it meets the needs and aspirations of the Scottish people. It has also been pointed out that equal emphasis should be placed on the proposed council and commission.
I shall highlight three areas this afternoon, the first of which was highlighted by the British Association of Social Workers and the STUC. They have indicated that insufficient finance was made available in the past for the training of social care staff, as was alluded to by Trish Godman. The career structure and qualifications of staff can vary from area to area. It is right and proper that those issues are being raised today if we are serious about the quality of services that we want to be delivered to all our vulnerable people, irrespective of their age.
The second matter—registration and inspection officers—also concerns those who provide services. The bill proposes to bring together many strands of current registration and inspection: health boards that are involved in nursing homes; local authorities that cover residential homes; and provision for children. All the officers in those areas are experts and have established networks for peer support. The suggestions that they should operate from five regional centres or that they should work from home have not found support. The need for local intelligence is an important aspect of inspection, together with links to the communities that are served by the providers. The needs of service users to access inspection officers outwith defined inspections is important to the development of quality services. I am concerned that, given the fact that the registration and inspection officers come from diverse employer bases, they will opt not to transfer if they do not have the same guarantees that were afforded to other staff during local government reorganisation. That was highlighted as a concern by the STUC, Unison, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and others. I urge the minister to reconsider that important matter.
My third point relates to the bill's lack of consistency and clarity in its definition of a child. Irene McGugan has already mentioned that issue.
The principles of the bill are welcomed by people who are involved in social care, whether they are users, providers or members of staff. It is unfortunate that so much attention has been focused on services for elderly people, although the bill covers all aspects of social care. The number of establishments that relate to services for the elderly that come within the scope of the bill is small compared to the number of establishments and settings for children and young people's services. It is right and proper that all vulnerable people should be protected. The Labour party and individual members of it, some of whom are members of the Parliament, have campaigned for a significant number of years for the regulation of services and of those who deliver them.
Throughout the evidence-taking process, it has been stated that further clarification and strengthening of the bill is needed to ensure that it meets the needs and aspirations of the Scottish people. It has also been pointed out that equal emphasis should be placed on the proposed council and commission.
I shall highlight three areas this afternoon, the first of which was highlighted by the British Association of Social Workers and the STUC. They have indicated that insufficient finance was made available in the past for the training of social care staff, as was alluded to by Trish Godman. The career structure and qualifications of staff can vary from area to area. It is right and proper that those issues are being raised today if we are serious about the quality of services that we want to be delivered to all our vulnerable people, irrespective of their age.
The second matter—registration and inspection officers—also concerns those who provide services. The bill proposes to bring together many strands of current registration and inspection: health boards that are involved in nursing homes; local authorities that cover residential homes; and provision for children. All the officers in those areas are experts and have established networks for peer support. The suggestions that they should operate from five regional centres or that they should work from home have not found support. The need for local intelligence is an important aspect of inspection, together with links to the communities that are served by the providers. The needs of service users to access inspection officers outwith defined inspections is important to the development of quality services. I am concerned that, given the fact that the registration and inspection officers come from diverse employer bases, they will opt not to transfer if they do not have the same guarantees that were afforded to other staff during local government reorganisation. That was highlighted as a concern by the STUC, Unison, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and others. I urge the minister to reconsider that important matter.
My third point relates to the bill's lack of consistency and clarity in its definition of a child. Irene McGugan has already mentioned that issue.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Our main item of business is a debate on motion S1M-1523, in the name of Susan Deacon, on the general principles of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill, w...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
I am conscious that, as we gather here this afternoon, certain events south of the border may have distracted some politicians and members of the public from...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
On consultation, the minister will be aware that concern has been expressed by, I think, everybody who has given evidence to the Health and Community Care Co...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
That is one of the issues that has arisen during early consideration of the bill. I will say more about it later in my speech, but I stress now that, at stag...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Will the minister give way?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
In the interest of time, I will continue, if I may.We already intend to regulate home care for children with disabilities. We now propose to extend regulatio...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I regret that, in the interest of time, I am unable to give way. The deputy minister will respond at the end of the debate and will pick up on points that ha...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I call Mary Scanlon to speak to and move the amendment.
Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD):
LD
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Will you clarify for me the reasoning behind accepting the amendment? According to rule 9.6.4 of the standing orders,...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I commend to Iain Smith and to all members the guidance that I issued on this subject only a week or two ago. The amendment falls completely within the terms...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Although we have lodged amendment S1M-1523.1, the Scottish Conservatives welcome the broad principles of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill. We particula...
Iain Smith:
LD
Will the member give way?
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I think that Mr Smith has said enough for today and I would rather keep my contribution positive.
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD) rose—
LD
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab) rose—
Lab
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Alzheimer Scotland does not pay registration fees—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. Three members are asking whether Mrs Scanlon will give way, but it is up to her to decide whether to do so.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I will give way to Mrs Smith.
Mrs Smith:
LD
The SCRO check payments have been set aside. All parties in the chamber supported that and the Executive has listened.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I am aware that, between the submission of evidence and today, there has been quite a bit of movement. That is why I say that the points that have been made ...
Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish National Party, I welcome the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill. I also welcome the fact that the headquarters of the new Scottish...
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I begin by thanking the members of the Health and Community Care Committee for their work on the bill. I thank the members of all the other committees that h...
Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab):
Lab
The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill is part of our modernising programme for government—and rightly so.I say to the Tories that to suggest, even as a joke...
Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Will Trish Godman give way?
Trish Godman:
Lab
No. I have just started my speech.No one in any political party would disagree that we should safeguard vulnerable people. That means vulnerable people of al...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I want to raise several children's issues that have been identified by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and by the cross-party group in the Scottis...
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
I declare an interest in the matter, as a member of Unison and the mother of a student nursery nurse. I do not want anything to come back to haunt me later.T...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Will the member give way?
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
No, I am winding up.In particular, I draw members' attention to section 2(2) of the bill, in which reference is made to somebody "being of a young age". At n...