Failure to rename National Care Service Bill would be ‘simply wrong’ – Lib Dems

Failing to change the name of the Scottish Government’s National Care Service Bill after a key part was scrapped would be “simply wrong”, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said.

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton will speak to his amendment in a stage two debate on the Bill at Holyrood on Tuesday, calling for the legislation to be renamed.

Ministers dropped plans to create an Scotland-wide adult social care system last month following opposition from other parties, trade unions and councils.

Now, the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill instead proposes creating an non-statutory national care service advisory body.

The Scottish Lib Dems want to change the name of the legislation to the Care and Carers (Scotland) Bill.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “For four years, the SNP wasted £30 million on trying to push through a bureaucratic, ministerial power grab of social care.

“That was money that could have paid the salaries of 1,200 care workers.

“Ministers have now been forced to junk this part of the legislation, so it is simply wrong for the title of the Bill to pretend this is not the case.

“By renaming the legislation, Parliament can send a clear message to care workers, care users and the legions of unpaid carers that they are what really matters.”

Since being introduced in the Scottish Parliament in June 2022, there have been repeated changes to the legislation which was initially said to be the most significant public service reform since the NHS was created.

MSPs on cross-party committees had complained the outline of the national care service lacked detail and the costings were unclear.

Local authorities also voiced concern at the centralisation of the service and trade unions said it would not address their priorities.

If passed, as well the national advisory body, the Bill would bring in other changes for the care sector.

This includes Anne’s Law to allow care home residents to be visited by a named person even when visiting restrictions are in place.

The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.