Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about carers.
This is a devolved policy area, and I have mentioned it to my Scottish Conservative colleagues at Holyrood. They have been the leading voice of change for carers in the Scottish Parliament, delivering increases in the carers’ allowance and successfully campaigning for the extension of free personal care to under-65s.
In 2016 they succeeded in passing an amendment to the Carers Bill requiring local authorities to provide short breaks, and ensuring that a person’s care plan must be agreed as soon as possible before they leave hospital and with the involvement of the carer. This has given carers some much needed time away, benefiting their quality of life and wellbeing.
More recently they have begun establishing a national carers’ review group to look into how best to help unpaid carers, co-chaired by Amanda Kopel who had previously fought for what became known as “Frank’s Law” after her late husband. This implemented free personal care for under-65s and came into effect in April 2019. I will monitor the progress of this review with interest.
With regard to the coronavirus situation their chief concern has been the Scottish Government’s early failure to allow carers access to personal protective equipment. I am gratified that on this and across the range of issues facing carers my colleagues have stood firmly and consistently on carers’ side in holding the Scottish Government to account.
There are hundreds of thousands of carers, young and old, across Scotland. Without them life would be impossible for some of the most vulnerable people. I join my colleagues in their determination to do more for carers and thank them for the vital care they deliver.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister
