Chamber
Plenary, 06 Feb 2002
06 Feb 2002 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill
I would like to say a few words at the conclusion of the debate on this bill. I would like to congratulate the Executive—Malcolm Chisholm and the new ministers—and Susan Deacon, the former Minister for Health and Community Care. I would also like to congratulate the Parliament, which has had the vision and courage to take the bill to this stage and which will now move on to its implementation.
The statement that this care bill makes is crucial. It widens, deepens and strengthens this Parliament's commitment, and this Executive's commitment, to those in our communities who need help and who may be vulnerable. It is important to put that commitment into perspective. A recent Executive report suggests that, by 2031, nearly 1,200,000 people in our country will be over 65. Not all those people will require the kind of care that we are talking about. However, this bill sends a very powerful message to every organisation that deals with older people, and to every older person, that they have a Parliament and an Executive that they can be proud of.
It is easy to discuss in an abstract way issues that affect our society and our community. However, this Parliament and this Executive will put legislation on the statute book. They have also invested substantial amounts of public funds. It seems to me that that combination of legislative commitment and financial investment is the surest sign yet that we have a new politics in Scotland. That new politics is working. It is good to see from every quarter of the Parliament today support for this vital piece of legislation.
This is an important day for Scotland and an important day for older people. Every parliamentarian here should take some credit and have some pride. Politics can be a tough business, but the satisfaction is that devolution is making a difference to ordinary people the length and breadth of our country. It is a privilege to have been part of that process—a process that is now nearly complete. However, as colleagues have said, the hard work is about to start.
Let me finish on a challenging note. This legislation is about to be enacted and that is tremendously encouraging but, for the 1,200,000 people who will be over 65 by 2031, the journey is just beginning. Their needs are high upon the political agenda in Scotland—as high as I have ever known them to be. The contribution that has been made by Westminster—pensions, heating and other opportunities—linked with the marvellous work of the Executive and the Parliament shows real partnership for real progress. It will affect those in our society whom we have always championed, but who have been a bit frustrated because we have never been able to go as far as we have gone today.
All in all, it is good news from the Scottish Parliament. I hope that all the officials and everyone charged with implementing the bill will get on with the job and ensure that the hard work that has been done by the committee, the Parliament and the Executive will be turned into early results in every community in Scotland and for every older person who needs our help.
The statement that this care bill makes is crucial. It widens, deepens and strengthens this Parliament's commitment, and this Executive's commitment, to those in our communities who need help and who may be vulnerable. It is important to put that commitment into perspective. A recent Executive report suggests that, by 2031, nearly 1,200,000 people in our country will be over 65. Not all those people will require the kind of care that we are talking about. However, this bill sends a very powerful message to every organisation that deals with older people, and to every older person, that they have a Parliament and an Executive that they can be proud of.
It is easy to discuss in an abstract way issues that affect our society and our community. However, this Parliament and this Executive will put legislation on the statute book. They have also invested substantial amounts of public funds. It seems to me that that combination of legislative commitment and financial investment is the surest sign yet that we have a new politics in Scotland. That new politics is working. It is good to see from every quarter of the Parliament today support for this vital piece of legislation.
This is an important day for Scotland and an important day for older people. Every parliamentarian here should take some credit and have some pride. Politics can be a tough business, but the satisfaction is that devolution is making a difference to ordinary people the length and breadth of our country. It is a privilege to have been part of that process—a process that is now nearly complete. However, as colleagues have said, the hard work is about to start.
Let me finish on a challenging note. This legislation is about to be enacted and that is tremendously encouraging but, for the 1,200,000 people who will be over 65 by 2031, the journey is just beginning. Their needs are high upon the political agenda in Scotland—as high as I have ever known them to be. The contribution that has been made by Westminster—pensions, heating and other opportunities—linked with the marvellous work of the Executive and the Parliament shows real partnership for real progress. It will affect those in our society whom we have always championed, but who have been a bit frustrated because we have never been able to go as far as we have gone today.
All in all, it is good news from the Scottish Parliament. I hope that all the officials and everyone charged with implementing the bill will get on with the job and ensure that the hard work that has been done by the committee, the Parliament and the Executive will be turned into early results in every community in Scotland and for every older person who needs our help.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-2678, in the name of Malcolm Chisholm, which seeks agreement that the Community Care and Health (Scotland...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I am pleased to be opening a stage 3 debate for the first time. We may celebrate the new parliamentary procedures that have been working so well throughout t...
Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
On behalf of the SNP, I am pleased to support the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill at its third and final stage.I want to place on record my thanks ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
On behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I support the bill. I thank all those who contributed to and supported the passage of the bill, including the witnes...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I will break in to assure the members who are waiting their turn that I am confident that everybody will be called.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I am on my final point. Perhaps you mean that I should take another 20 minutes, Presiding Officer.I welcome the introduction of direct payments, which will b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I should perhaps make it clear that, as we anticipate that we might require a motion without notice to bring forward decision time, I am reasonably relaxed a...
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I am delighted to take part in today's debate and support the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill, which will provide a real improvement in community c...
Henry McLeish (Central Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I would like to say a few words at the conclusion of the debate on this bill. I would like to congratulate the Executive—Malcolm Chisholm and the new ministe...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome the passage of the bill, which is an important piece of legislation. It represents a considerable improvement in the quality of life of carer...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I have been relaxed about the time until now. A couple of additional members have pressed their request-to-speak buttons and we are back on course—ordinarily...
Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab):
Lab
I begin my contribution as a member of the Health and Community Care Committee by thanking the clerks and everyone involved with the bill. The clerks to the ...
Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
The bill is indeed a good-news story for the Parliament. The Scottish Conservatives believe that free personal care represents not only socially just funding...
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Does Mr Wallace still believe that?
Ben Wallace:
Con
Oh yes. Mr Rumbles should not believe everything that he reads in The Scotsman.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I would not linger, Mr Wallace. Mrs Scanlon took up much of your time.
Ben Wallace:
Con
I hope that, as a result of the bill, we will see an end to the historical debates between—
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Ben Wallace:
Con
Yes.
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
Ben Wallace has welcomed free personal care. Will he clarify whether that is the view of the Scottish Tories or the view of the UK Tories?
Ben Wallace:
Con
I would be delighted to clarify that. If Margaret Jamieson had read The Herald, she would have seen that Iain Duncan Smith is thinking of adopting the policy...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
No, the member is finishing.
Ben Wallace:
Con
I also thank Henry McLeish for standing up against considerable opposition in his party to achieve the provision of free personal care. I say to him that est...
Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, welcome the bill and in particular the critical role that my good comrade Henry McLeish played in delivering it. I thought that his speech was the hi...
Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):
*
I warmly welcome the bill and particularly the proposals for free personal and nursing care for elderly people, which are in accordance with the recommendati...
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
I am grateful for the opportunity to put on record my whole-hearted support for this progressive bill. It is obvious from the speeches of members of all part...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
Like other members, I welcome the bill and pay tribute to the ministers, members of the Health and Community Care Committee, MSPs and people outside the Parl...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Hugh Henry):
Lab
I thank everyone who has been involved with the bill over the past four and a half months. That includes a great many people. Within the Parliament, I thank ...