Scottish Parliament has endorsed a new National Outcome on Care

MSPs have today debated the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s report on the Scottish Government’s proposed new National Outcomes – including a new, landmark National Outcome on Care.

"A Scotland That Cares" – a campaign backed by over 70 organisations – has championed the new National Outcome to better value and invest in all forms of care in Scotland.

We all need to be cared for at some point in our lives and every day across Scotland, the work of unpaid and paid carers helps hold society together.

Care is crucial to every part of our society and the economy that serves it. Our collective wellbeing depends on care, yet those who provide care are often undervalued and under-rewarded.

Paul Traynor, speaking on behalf of the campaign, said: “If it is finalised by the Scottish Government, the new National Outcome on Care will represent a vital step towards recognising and valuing all of Scotland’s carers."

"It will make Scotland one of the first countries in the world to make such an explicit commitment to driving and transparently measuring progress on how we value care."

"However, to drive transformative change, the dedicated National Outcome on Care must now provide a strong focus for new, sustained policy and spending action at national and local levels."

"It must also be accompanied by robust and cross-cutting National Indicators to measure progress meaningfully and transparently. Only then will we know how much we are truly valuing and investing in care in Scotland, both now and in the future.”

This statement is issued on behalf of the “A Scotland That Cares” campaign Steering Group: Oxfam Scotland, the Scottish Women’s Budget Group, Carers Trust Scotland, Carers Scotland, MECOPP, One Parent Families Scotland, Scottish Care and Pregnant Then Screwed – with input from the University of the West of Scotland.