Free elderly care plan under scrutiny

The committee is seeking clarification

MSPs on the health committee have accused Westminster of being discriminatory over its refusal to pay attendance allowances to some Scottish pensioners.

The criticism is made in a report on the bill which will deliver free personal care for the elderly.

The health committee has been studying the bill and, though it is unanimous in its support for the general principles, members have some specific concerns.

They want the definition of free personal care to be enshrined in law to ensure Scotland's pensioners get help with washing, dressing and feeding if they need it.

For those in a care home, who currently pay for their own care, there will be a flat rate payment of £90, and, if necessary, an additional £65 for nursing care

Nicola Sturgeon: "£145m bill"

The committee has criticised the Department of Work and Pensions for blocking attendance allowances and refusing to transfer the £20m saved to the Scottish Executive.

Those eligible under the future Scottish scheme would have the benefit cut.

Attendance allowance is awarded to people who are so severely disabled, physically or mentally, that they need a great deal of help with personal care or supervision.

It is paid at different rates depending on whether the person needs care during the day, during the night, or both.

The weekly amounts are £55.30 and £37.

We are concerned that any significant shortfall in future years could jeopardise the success of the bill's implementation

Margaret Smith, committee convener

The committee believes that Westminster's refusal to transfer the money saved by not handing out the benefit is discriminatory.

It is now seeking assurances from Scottish ministers that the full finance is in place to pay for personal care in the long term.

The committee's convener Margaret Smith said: "We are concerned that any significant shortfall in future years could jeopardise the success of the bill's implementation.

"Importantly, reassurance is also sought on the issue of attendance allowance."

Predicted shortfall

The Scottish National Party's community care spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon, said Westminster's intention to cut the attendance allowance would leave the free personal care bill at more than £145m.

She claims that would mean a shortfall of £55 per person per week.

Angus MacKay: Outlined the executive's intentions

In June, Scotland's Finance Minister Angus MacKay said free personal care for the elderly care would be implemented from April 2002, with £100m available in the first year and 2003.

Meanwhile, a report out on Friday says older people living in Scotland are receiving less home care despite a cash injection of £12m.

The Accounts Commission study revealed the number of home care hours received north of the border had fallen by 2%, from 401,227 hours per week in 1998 to 393,074 hours in 2000.

It also showed the number of older people receiving home care in Scotland had dropped by almost 13% over the same period, down to 59,700 from 67,400, a figure that was expected to fall further this year.

But the Convenstion of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) criticised the report claiming it was "at odds with reality" and accused the commission of painting "a gloomy and biased picture" of the home care service in Scotland.

Cosla's social services and health improvement spokesman, Ronnie McColl, said: "This is another example of them raising a number of longstanding issues that add nothing to the debate."

He said Scottish councils "prided themselves" on the provision of high quality home care services available.