Scots reject respite breaks proposal

The Scottish executive has rejected  a major report’s recommendation to give unpaid carers a statutory entitlement to short respite breaks from caring.

In its response to the Care 21 report, published this week, the executive said an entitlement would “cut across” councils’ existing responsibilities to provide care and support following an assessment of needs.

But it said it might revisit the proposal if it was recommended by a task force it will set up to assess respite provision.

The executive will also look into developing a national expert carer training framework to share best practice. But it rejected calls to establish a separate young carers strategy.

● Executive response to Care 21 from www.scotland.gov.uk/