The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 971 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Paul McLennan
I will move on to the next theme. In the context of the bill, we are talking about care users and carers, and the workforce, but I want to talk about the broader societal impact of the bill. We have not touched on that; it is almost wrapped around the bill. Do you want to expand on where you see the bill having a broader societal impact?
10:30Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Paul McLennan
You mentioned the issue of contracts. The bill would allow contracts to be reserved to voluntary and third sector organisations. What are your views on that approach? Do you see advantages or disadvantages in it? I will open that question up and allow others to comment on contracts as well as the broader question that I asked.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Paul McLennan
Good morning, minister. Some witnesses have told us that urgent reforms cannot and do not need to wait for the national care service to be established. To what extent is establishing the national care service a pre-condition to improving social care? To expand on that, we asked witnesses in the earlier session how the Scottish Government can ensure that the process of creating a national care service does not destabilise existing services at this time of transition. Could you comment on that, too?
09:45Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Paul McLennan
With regard to the second point, I was talking about what we can do to assist organisations that are going through the process of transition as we move towards a national care service.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Paul McLennan
Foysol Choudhury asked my first question, and the minister touched on the second question that I was going to ask, about procurement, so I thank him for that.
I have one small question about third sector representation on care boards, minister. What are your views on that? That is the only question that I have on that area.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Paul McLennan
I have two further questions, one of which is specifically for Unison and the other of which is for Jane Fowler.
I will come to Jane first. You have mentioned your concerns about the possible removal of local government workers but not the impact on national health service staff. What are your views on that?
10:00Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Paul McLennan
Okay. I might pick up that point later. At last week’s meeting of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, the same issue was raised by various groups who had different opinions on it.
Gerry, what is SOLACE’s perspective? Do you share the view that we should go right back to the start, or should you be involved in further discussion on co-design and co-production?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Paul McLennan
Does anyone else want to speak about terms and conditions? One of the founding principles of the national care service is to improve those, because of a recognition of the retention and recruitment issues.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Paul McLennan
I remember it well.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Paul McLennan
Could that be done after the framework element has been established? Could the feedback that you have given be taken into account now rather than going right back to the start? I acknowledge your points, but we are where we are. Is there not an opportunity to take the learning from this exercise and move forward with the second phase, which is the co-design and co-production of what the national care service would actually look like?