Glasgow Labour should make a New Year’s Resolution to meet their commitments to offer respite weeks to Scotland’s army of carers.

While respite provision has increased across Scotland Glasgow’s Labour City Council has cut 3560 weeks of support for carers in the last three years.

The SNP Scottish Government and Scotland’s Local Authorities are working to deliver 10,000 additional weeks of respite care across the country to support those who care for elderly, disabled and vulnerable friends and relatives.

The Scottish Government provided an extra £4 million to help local authorities increase respite care.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd said: “Scotland’s army of carers do a fantastic job and they should be properly supported.

“I am pleased that across Scotland over 8,000 additional weeks of respite care, giving carers a chance to take a break from their responsibilities, have been offered by local authorities in the last year.

“I am deeply disappointed that while all other local authorities are supporting carers Glasgow has cut the support on offer.

“Carers in Glasgow perform a valuable service.  For the Labour council to cut 3560 weeks of respite care shows a callous disregard for the help carers give.

“In what are difficult financial times we must prioritise services and that means all local authorities should recognise the work carers do, the contribution they make and the importance of respite care in carers wellbeing.  The SNP has invested in care and committed to increasing respite care, a move which has improved services elsewhere.

“Labour’s council has been too concerned with trying to raise council tax bills and not enough with taking care of its citizens. This New Year Labour must take up the challenge, live up to their commitments and reverse their cuts to respite care to give the city’s carers the regular breaks we all owe them."

Note:

S3W-37426 - Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP) (Date Lodged Wednesday, November 10, 2010): To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow City Council's contribution has been to the 8,950 additional respite weeks identified in paragraph 2.1 of Respite Care, Scotland 2010.

Answered by Shona Robison (Monday, November 22, 2010): Between 2007-08 and 2009-10, Glasgow City Council''s recorded respite provision decreased by 3,560 weeks.