£20m Boost for Scotland’s Social Care

The Scottish Government has confirmed that social care will receive a £20m cash injection.

Investment will be brought forward to update the Budget in a number of areas, including:

• A further £2.9 million for the hospice sector, to delivery pay parity for staff with the NHS Agenda for Change
• An additional £20 million to the Local Government Settlement for social care – which can be used towards funding the Real Living wage for adult and childcare sectors

Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison said: “This Budget and our wider spending plans are focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland – ramping up cost of living support, driving further improvements in the NHS and supporting our landmark efforts to eradicate child poverty.

“We have been clear that we would seek to work constructively to deliver on these priorities and the Liberal Democrats have engaged in our discussions in a positive manner throughout the Budget process. There are a range of areas where we share priorities and have acted upon – such as the college sector, hospices, and social care.

“With that agreement now in place to secure a majority in parliament in support of the Bill, I am confident we will make lives better for people in Scotland.”

Cllr Paul Kelly, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) health and social care spokesperson, welcomed the announcement.

‘This decision is an important one that gives our partner providers assurance that direct care workers will receive at least the Real Living Wage in 2026-27,’ he said.

However, he continued that the budget still falls short of the £750m the sector needs, adding: ‘COSLA will continue to seek further investment in social care in the years to come.’