‘Red tape nightmare’ for new care service

THE SNP’s National Care Service will be a ‘bureaucratic nightmare’ and could plunge funding for local services into disarray, it was warned last night.

Scotland’s social care sector is set to be centralised under Scottish Government plans, stripping responsibility from local authorities and handing control to SNP ministers. But a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies warns it is ‘far from clear’ that a new nationwide system would result in improved services.

The report said: ‘The plans would represent a big change in Scottish councils’ responsibilities and require the reallocation of billions of pounds in funding, potentially posing challenges.’

Councils are expected to spend £4.3billion this year on social care support for adults and children – approximately a third of their total budgets.

Money will have to be siphoned away from councils to pay for care work, but SNP ministers have not explained how they should slash budgets to fund the new scheme.

Scottish Conservative social care spokesman Craig Hoy said: ‘Our social care services are in crisis. The last thing we need is SNP ministers creating a bloated one-sizefits-all system which will divert money away from crucial frontline services.’

Responding to the report, Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: ‘We’re committed to the National Care Service and ending the postcode lottery in the provision of care. We have committed to increase public investment in social care by 25 per cent over the lifetime of this parliament.’