MSP calls for payment of South Ayrshire care cash

May 7 2008 Ayrshire Post

COUNCIL chiefs are being refused £830,000 in government cash to help pay for the care of around 2000 pensioners in South Ayrshire.

And MSP Adam Ingram has backed calls for the cash to be paid in a bid to cover the extra cost of their care.

Attendance allowance was withdrawn by the Westminster government when the Free Personal Care scheme was introduced in Scotland in 2002.

The tax free benefit had been paid to people over the age of 65, who needed help with personal care or a lot of looking after.

It was intended as a result of being physically or mentally disabled.

However, the UK government insisted that the allowance was no longer necessary because people had all of their disability needs met as part of the scheme.

But an independent review has concluded that the Scottish Government “should in the short term seek the reinstatement of the £30 million in attendance allowance”.

Mr Ingram explained: “The Free Personal and Nursing Care policy was supported by all parties of Scotland, and has been of huge benefit to older people in South Ayrshire.

“All political parties should now come together to support the recommendation of the Independent Review that Attendance Allowance funds held by Westminster should be reinstated.

“Older people across South Ayrshire are losing out to the tune of some £830,000 because of the UK Treasury’s unwillingness to return this money to Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has already taken steps to improve the delivery of free personal care and has increased free personal care and nursing payments for the first time since they were introduced.

“This should not be a party political issue – it is about what is right for vulnerable older people in South Ayrshire and across Scotland.”