To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of residential social care beds in the west of Scotland, in light of reported closures and service reductions in the region. (S6O-04911)

We do not want to see the closure of good-quality care homes, and we understand the concern that the issue causes residents and families.

Regrettably, care homes can close for various reasons. It is outwith the remit of the Scottish Government to intervene. Although we have overall responsibility for social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care support at a local level lies with local authorities, national health service boards and integrated health and social care partnerships.

Funding for health and social care is at a record level. Our 2025-26 budget will invest £21.7 billion into the sector, including almost £2.2 billion of investment for social care and integration. That delivers on our commitment to increase social care spending by 25 per cent during this parliamentary session—two years ahead of schedule.

I thank the Minister for that answer, as unsurprising as it is. If social care spending is at record levels, why are care homes in Greenock and Paisley closing down? Why are services on Arran reducing capacity? Why are the Majority of care homes that are closing citing financial viability as the primary reason for their closure?

We have lost more than 250 care homes, or more than 2,000 beds, during the past decade. As the minister knows, Donald Macaskill has said that the whole of Scotland’s social care sector is in crisis. I have constituents who are languishing in hospital when they should be in a care home. What will the Scottish Government do about that?

The member’s final point relates to delayed discharges. The Cabinet secretary and I engage closely with integration joint boards, health boards and wider partners to work to drive improvement. Although we have a challenge nationally, we see examples of excellent practice across the country. Part of the challenge is to ensure that parts of the country where performance is not where it should be can learn from other parts of the country.

The member will appreciate that many of the challenges that are faced by our social care sector—and particularly by residential care homes—are the result of macroeconomic factors that are outwith the immediate control of the Scottish Government. We have been through a period of significant inflation, and policy decisions have had a significant impact, not least the UK Government’s decision on national insurance.

We are committed to working constructively with our partners at the local level to ensure that we provide support for our social care sector, and we will continue to do so.

I remind members that the initial question was about residential social care in the west of Scotland.

I am sure that the Minister shares my concern that a number of residential beds are at risk of being lost following the UK Labour Government’s reckless decision to raise employer national insurance contributions, which is estimated to add a further cost of more than £84 million to Scotland’s social care sector. Will the minister join me in calling on the UK Labour Government to immediately reimburse those costs in full to stop that unnecessary harm to vital lifeline services across the country?

Minister, please link your answer back to the substantive question.

Yes, Presiding Officer.

The issue impacts the west of Scotland and many other parts of the country. The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the impact that the UK Government’s increase in employer national insurance contributions will have on the social care sector in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities continue to press the UK Government to fund the impacts of those changes on Scottish public services in full. I include the vital services that are provided on behalf of local authorities by providers in the private and third sectors, such as the non-profit social care sector. Scottish Government officials have estimated that the social care sector faces additional costs of more than £84 million as a result of that decision.

Recognising the need to improve the terms and conditions of the existing social care workforce, the Scottish Government was on the verge of allocating £38 million in funding to enhance sick pay, maternity pay and paternity pay provisions, which would in turn have helped to reduce the loss of care home spaces in the west of Scotland. That was 18 months ago. The money disappeared at the 11th hour. Has that work been abandoned, or will we see the return of the £38 million pot to address the terms and conditions of the social care workforce?

I have already outlined the investment that the Scottish Government is providing to social care to help to ensure that we drive up standards, including payment of at least the real living wage. We are taking forward work on sectoral bargaining. I have engaged constructively with the UK Government on its Employment Rights Bill process. We are committed to working constructively with our partners to drive forward standards in social care across Scotland. If Jackie Baillie is interested in the matter, I am sure that she will bring forward reasoned proposals as part of the budget-setting process, rather than sit on her hands, as she did earlier this year.