Chamber
Plenary, 06 Feb 2002
06 Feb 2002 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill
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 in the south of England. We do not hear what the Labour party is doing in England.
Last month, I attended a meeting of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries, which was an exciting occasion. I was there with members of the Labour party. The actuaries did not let Nicola Sturgeon in—she was not as interesting as they were, so they kept her out. At the meeting, representatives of the Labour party at Westminster were still fundamentally opposed to free personal care. There is opposition in our party, but at least I am honest about that; the Liberal Democrats have voted against free personal care on two occasions. There is division with our party in the south, where some Conservatives do not want free personal care; up here, there are people who do. That is devolution and we are pleased that we have it today.
Lord Sutherland said at the meeting that he feared that free personal care would be fudged in the long term. He feared that the circle was not complete. Until it is complete—which will involve addressing joint boards, platforms of delivery and ring-fenced funding—there is a fear that those in all unionist parties who are opposed to free personal care will work against it. I would like free personal care to be adopted in the rest of the United Kingdom, because it is good news.
I finish by asking the minister a question about eligibility. As we have progressed with the bill, I have been contacted by a number of constituents who fear that they will lose attendance allowance, when in fact they are still eligible for it because they are not paying for any care. I ask the minister to ensure that people are informed of the changes that will come about when free personal care is introduced so that they know whether they will lose attendance allowance.
Thanks should be given to the Health and Community Care Committee and to the parties that campaigned for a long time for free personal care.
Last month, I attended a meeting of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries, which was an exciting occasion. I was there with members of the Labour party. The actuaries did not let Nicola Sturgeon in—she was not as interesting as they were, so they kept her out. At the meeting, representatives of the Labour party at Westminster were still fundamentally opposed to free personal care. There is opposition in our party, but at least I am honest about that; the Liberal Democrats have voted against free personal care on two occasions. There is division with our party in the south, where some Conservatives do not want free personal care; up here, there are people who do. That is devolution and we are pleased that we have it today.
Lord Sutherland said at the meeting that he feared that free personal care would be fudged in the long term. He feared that the circle was not complete. Until it is complete—which will involve addressing joint boards, platforms of delivery and ring-fenced funding—there is a fear that those in all unionist parties who are opposed to free personal care will work against it. I would like free personal care to be adopted in the rest of the United Kingdom, because it is good news.
I finish by asking the minister a question about eligibility. As we have progressed with the bill, I have been contacted by a number of constituents who fear that they will lose attendance allowance, when in fact they are still eligible for it because they are not paying for any care. I ask the minister to ensure that people are informed of the changes that will come about when free personal care is introduced so that they know whether they will lose attendance allowance.
Thanks should be given to the Health and Community Care Committee and to the parties that campaigned for a long time for free personal care.
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 ...