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| Minister backs costly care policy | Minister backs costly care policy |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's health secretary remains committed to free personal care for the elderly, despite a report which said it faced an uncertain financial future. | Scotland's health secretary remains committed to free personal care for the elderly, despite a report which said it faced an uncertain financial future. |
| Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "good policy", but she added that future costs would determine decision making. | Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "good policy", but she added that future costs would determine decision making. |
| Spending watchdog Audit Scotland revealed on Friday that there was a funding shortfall of up to £63m. | Spending watchdog Audit Scotland revealed on Friday that there was a funding shortfall of up to £63m. |
| It also said the policy, introduced in 2002, differed greatly from council to council. | It also said the policy, introduced in 2002, differed greatly from council to council. |
| Local authorities said the report showed they were right to press for reform of the free personal care legislation. | Local authorities said the report showed they were right to press for reform of the free personal care legislation. |
| Percentage receiving free personal care in 2005/06 | Percentage receiving free personal care in 2005/06 |
| Cosla spokesman Ronnie McColl said: "We have long argued that the legislation is unclear in terms of councils' entitlement to charge residents for assisting with the preparation of food." | Cosla spokesman Ronnie McColl said: "We have long argued that the legislation is unclear in terms of councils' entitlement to charge residents for assisting with the preparation of food." |
| Audit Scotland reported that the free personal and nursing care scheme needed to be better planned, managed and funded. | Audit Scotland reported that the free personal and nursing care scheme needed to be better planned, managed and funded. |
| Ms Sturgeon said talks would be held with local authorities with an aim to improve the legislation. | Ms Sturgeon said talks would be held with local authorities with an aim to improve the legislation. |
| READ IN FULL A review of free personal and nursing care [1.04MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ IN FULL A review of free personal and nursing care [1.04MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| She added: "We have to find out what the cost for the future is and take decisions based on that. | She added: "We have to find out what the cost for the future is and take decisions based on that. |
| "But I am saying to you very clearly the new government is committed to this policy. It is a good policy and we will take the action necessary to make sure that it lasts for the long-term." | "But I am saying to you very clearly the new government is committed to this policy. It is a good policy and we will take the action necessary to make sure that it lasts for the long-term." |
| About 72,000 older people receive personal care services free of charge. | About 72,000 older people receive personal care services free of charge. |
| Audit Scotland said the annual funding gap of up to £63m was expected to worsen. | Audit Scotland said the annual funding gap of up to £63m was expected to worsen. |
| It said initial cost estimates were difficult to make because of limited information, but monitoring had also been limited and long-term cost estimates had not been made by the government since 2001. | It said initial cost estimates were difficult to make because of limited information, but monitoring had also been limited and long-term cost estimates had not been made by the government since 2001. |
| It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow Robert Black | It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow Robert Black |
| It added that the government and councils should work "as a matter of urgency" to clarify ambiguities with the policy. | It added that the government and councils should work "as a matter of urgency" to clarify ambiguities with the policy. |
| Auditor General Robert Black said the policy was an important one for older people in Scotland. | Auditor General Robert Black said the policy was an important one for older people in Scotland. |
| He added: "It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow. | He added: "It is well documented that Scotland has a growing older population and demand for free personal care will grow. |
| "There needs to be better planning and better funding of this policy." | "There needs to be better planning and better funding of this policy." |
| The payments, increased in line with inflation, are about to go up to £149 a week for personal care, with an additional £67 for those in a care home which provides nursing care. | The payments, increased in line with inflation, are about to go up to £149 a week for personal care, with an additional £67 for those in a care home which provides nursing care. |
| The total cost of the policy in the first four years was £1.8bn, although councils would have spent £1.2bn even if the policy had not been introduced, as some free services were previously provided. | The total cost of the policy in the first four years was £1.8bn, although councils would have spent £1.2bn even if the policy had not been introduced, as some free services were previously provided. |
| This £600m gap had led to a growing shortfall in government funding, and by 2005 this annual gap was either £46m or £63m, depending on the assumptions used. | This £600m gap had led to a growing shortfall in government funding, and by 2005 this annual gap was either £46m or £63m, depending on the assumptions used. |
| Percentage receiving free personal care in 2005/06 | Percentage receiving free personal care in 2005/06 |
| FREE PERSONAL CARE - KEY STATISTICS SCOTTISH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TOTAL 65+ RESIDENTS FREE CARE RECIPIENTS 2005/06 (APPROX %) Aberdeen City 32,398 10% Aberdeenshire 35,806 8.5% Angus 20,518 7% Argyll and Bute 17,950 6.5% Clackmannanshire 7,381 9.5% Dum & Galloway 30,296 7% Dundee City 25,660 8% East Ayrshire 19,809 9% East Dun 18,302 7% East Lothian 16,209 9% East Ren 14,989 7% Edinburgh City 68,647 7.5% Eilean Siar 5,350 12% Falkirk 23,394 8% Fife 59,228 9% Glasgow City 85,749 12.5% Highland 37,480 8.5% Inverclyde 14,036 11.5% Midlothian 12,544 8% Moray 15,144 8% N Ayrshire 23,403 8% N Lanarkshire 46,784 9% Orkney Islands 3,418 8.5% Perth & Kinross 26,766 8% Renfrewshire 27,145 7.5% Scottish Borders 21,179 8.5% Shetland Islands 3,326 8% S Ayrshire 22,365 9% S Lanarkshire 48,630 7% Stirling 14,148 7% W Dunbartonshire 14,642 10.5% West Lothian 20,279 10% Source: Audit Scotland |