The £40m annual shortfall identified by Lord Sutherland as vital for the delivery of free personal and nursing care across Scotland in his independent review of the policy will be met by the Scottish Government, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.
Making the announcement during a statement to parliament yesterday, Sturgeon said the additional funding would be made available to local authorities from 2009/10.
She said that the Scottish Government has accepted all 12 recommendations made by Lord Sutherland, in particular listing his concerns about issues such as whether councils should be allowed to charge for meal preparation and the UK Government’s decision to withdraw the Attendance Allowance.
Sturgeon said the UK Government was wrong to withdraw the Attendance Allowance for residents in Scotland and that the Scottish Government will seek to have the funding reinstated.
"The Sutherland Review concluded that the UK Government was wrong to stop payments of Attendance Allowance for residents in Scotland, while continuing to make it available for those living in the rest of the UK. Clearly it is wrong that the Scottish Budget should bear those costs.
"We will seek the reinstatement of this funding, and have asked for this issue to be included on the agenda of the next Joint Ministerial Committee meeting with Ministers from around the UK."
She also admitted that the current policy lacks clarity in some areas, adding that the Scottish Government will introduce legislation to clarify issues such as food preparation.
She said: "On charging for food preparation, the current legislation is not clear. Since 2002, a number of councils have removed charges, but eight councils still charge. Legislation will be introduced to clarify this and stop councils charging for food preparation."
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