ALLIANCE Briefing: National Care Service Bill Stage 1 debate
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 26th February 2024

Briefing highlights key recommendations and concerns ahead of the National Care Service Bill Stage 1 debate.
The ALLIANCE has circulated a briefing to MSPs ahead of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 debate, which is currently scheduled to take place on Thursday 29th February 2024.
Within the briefing, we make the following key points:
- The ALLIANCE recommends that MSPs vote in favour of the Bill at Stage 1.
- The ALLIANCE supports the principle of the creation of a National Care Service (NCS) if implemented in a way that responds to the concerns and experiences of people accessing social care and the workforce, and the recommendations in the Independent Review of Adult Social Care.
- The ALLIANCE believes that the Bill as introduced requires substantial amendments at Stage 2 and recommends several amendments as set out in the briefing.
- The ALLIANCE believes that the approach taken to develop the Shared Accountability Agreement risks undermining trust in the co-design process and in the NCS overall.
- The ALLIANCE calls on the Scottish Government to urgently publish its proposed Stage 2 amendments and asks the Scottish Parliament to extend the length of the Stage 2 process.
- The ALLIANCE remains highly concerned about NCS financing, in particular ensuring adequate and sustainable funding for the third sector. The principles of human rights budgeting should be embedded in all NCS budgets at the national and local levels.
You can read our briefing in full via the links below.
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