Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): Lab

The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-110, in the name of Irene Oldfather, on valuing carers.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament recognises the hard work and dedication of Scotland's 115,675 unpaid carers, a workforce comparable to the total NHS workforce in Scotlan...

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): Lab

I thank all the members who signed the motion and those colleagues who have stayed behind in this final meeting of Parliament before the summer recess. The m...

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): SNP

I congratulate Irene Oldfather on securing the debate and on highlighting the fact that around 116,000 people in Scotland are unpaid carers—a fact of which m...

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Con

I am grateful to my ex-colleague on the Health and Community Care Committee, Irene Oldfather, for raising the issue of carers. She mentioned a lady whose son...

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): LD

We have heard three excellent speeches from members who have real experience of this subject, know what they are talking about and care about it. I want to u...

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I am grateful to Irene Oldfather for securing the debate and allowing us all to make our contribution to the on-going debate about carers. Irene and I are bo...

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): Con

I apologise for not being in the chamber at the start of the debate, but I did not get the message about proceedings being ahead of schedule. My comments wil...

Irene Oldfather: Lab

The figure of almost 116,000 refers to unpaid carers who undertake more than 50 hours a week of work, which is comparable to a job in the health service. The...

Mrs Milne: Con

I thank the member for that clarification. I was going to seek an explanation. I wondered whether the different figures reflected the lack of accurate knowle...

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): SSCUP

It was not my intention to speak in the debate, but it has been a privilege to listen to the compassion that has come from members on all sides of the chambe...

The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Tom McCabe): Lab

I thank Irene Oldfather and congratulate her on securing this debate. There has been a great deal of positive discussion on this issue, both here this evenin...

Meeting closed at 17:25.