Plans for funding care in England could cost Scots dearly

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:46

THE SNP has warned that UK government proposals for free personal care in England could result in Scottish pensioners losing £70 a week benefit.

Plans to cut Attendance Allowance, which is claimed by people over the age of 65 with disabilities, and ploughing the cash into English free care have been mooted by the UK government in its paper Shaping the Future of Care Together.

One of the options in the consultation paper is scrapping disability benefits and putting the money into care services.

Yesterday the SNP work and pensions spokesperson John Mason MP said: "There are 145,000 people in Scotland on Attendance Allowance, and it is outrageous that Labour is planning to abolish an allowance on which some of the most vulnerable people rely.

"Downing Street is essentially planning to cut this benefit to fund free personal care in England – when the Scottish Government already provide this in Scotland."

"The SNP will oppose this and I'm launching a campaign to make those affected aware of Labour's plans."

Bill Kidd MSP has already taken the campaign to the streets of Glasgow. He said: "I find it outrageous that a Labour government is even thinking about scrapping Attendance Allowance, a non-means-tested benefit paid to some of the most vulnerable in society."

A spokesman for the UK government's Department of Work and Pensions said: "No decisions have been made about funding of the national care service. But we have categorically ruled out using Disability Living Allowance for under-65s and been absolutely clear that those currently receiving Attendance Allowance and those over 65 receiving Disability Living Allowance would continue to receive an equivalent level of support and protection in any reformed system."