Minister demands benefits for elderly

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has stepped up demands for £30 million in benefits for older people to be reinstated.

But the move was dismissed as a "narrow" dispute with Westminster by Labour, with the Tories adding that the Nationalists were looking for a "big rammy" with London.

"It is deeply disappointing that this government, rather than address the range of issues that matter so much in this debate, again just narrowly want to focus on what will give them an opportunity to fight with the UK Government," said Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran.

Westminster withdrew the Attendance Allowance to self-funding people in care homes when the flagship free personal care policy was introduced in 2002. But a review into the policy published earlier this month by its original architect Lord Sutherland criticised the move and called for it to be reinstated.

It also identified a £40 million funding shortfall in the policy which has since been met by the Scottish Government.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that the withdrawal of Attendance Allowance contributed to the shortfall. There was also a wider issue, she said, about Holyrood having the freedom to take decisions in devolved areas without "interference" from the UK Government.

Ms Sturgeon added: "Over the next 25 years, the number of older people in Scotland is projected to rise from around 850,000 to almost 1.4 million.

"The growth in numbers is particularly concentrated amongst those aged over 90 years of age - the people most likely to require support for their long-term care."

Lord Sutherland's review indicates that there should be better targeting of all the resources currently available to meet the costs of long term care, according to the health secretary.

She said Westminster acknowledged this principle in the consultation on the reform of social care in England and that Edinburgh would engage with London on the issue. But she added: "Lord Sutherland said quite clearly that the return of the £30 million Attendance Allowance funding should be sought ahead of any wider review of funding streams."

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