MSPs have exposed a postcode lottery for care charges in
Scotland, with service users facing fees ranging from nothing to
over £300 a month for similar levels of need.
The figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act
by the
Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on learning disability,
which asked councils how much they would charge users in each of
three scenarios.
They showed that in three councils - Falkirk, Fife and South
Ayshire - a single parent with a learning disability receiving 21
hours of home care support per week would pay nothing. However, the
same person would face a charge of £364 a month in West Lothian,
£339 in Moray and £337 in Argyll and Bute.
Any charges are on top of users' entitlement to free personal
care.
The variations come despite the publication in May of
guidance designed to standardise charges by representative body the
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, who is convener of the cross-party
group, said: "Ministers should bring forward clear and consistently
enforced national guidelines to ensure that people in every part of
Scotland are treated fairly."
The group has written to all 32 councils and the Scottish
government about tackling the discrepancies.
Ian Hood, co-ordinator of charity coalition the Learning Disability
Alliance Scotland, said: "There is no rhyme or reason to how
these care charges are worked out. People don't mind making a fair
contribution when they can afford it but local authorities can
charge whatever they want without a clear explanation of how they
worked out this charge."
Mike Holmes, director of campaigns at learning disabiity charity
ENABLE Scotland, said: "Nobody should be charged more than they can
afford, but our concern is that, as local authorities feel the
squeeze, things could get worse in some areas. We appreciate that
councils are struggling, but it seems to us to be unjustifiable to
pass on the financial burden to those who are least able to afford
it."
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