Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson today called on the Labour Government to act on the recommendations made by Lord Sutherland that Westminster should reinstate the £30m a year in attendance allowance for elderly people in care homes.
An independent review of the Free Personal Care scheme, conducted by Lord Sutherland, has concluded that Scottish Government "should in the short term seek the reinstatement of the £30 million in attendance allowance", which was withdrawn by the Westminster Government when the scheme was introduced.
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free social security benefit paid to people over the age of 65 who need help with personal care or who need a lot of looking after. It is intended as a contribution towards the extra costs faced as a result of being physically or mentally disabled. With the introduction of the Free Personal and Nursing Care policy in Scotland in July 2002, the allowance was withdrawn from individuals in residential care who had all their disability-related needs met by that care.
Approximately 8.5% of the 35,806 people aged over 65 in Aberdeenshire, [around 3,000] are entitled to free personal care. On that basis, the Council would be entitled to some £1.26 million in Attendance Allowance funding that is currently being held back by Westminster.
Commenting on Lord Sutherland’s announcement MR Stevenson said:
"The Free Personal and Nursing Care policy was supported by all parties of Scotland, and has been of huge benefit to older people in Banff & Buchan.
"All political parties should now come together to support the recommendation of the Independent Review that Attendance Allowance funds, held by Westminster, should be reinstated.
"Older people across Banff & Buchan are losing out to access to some £1.26 million allocated to Aberdeenshire council because of the UK Treasury's unwillingness to return this money to Scotland.
"The Scottish Government has already taken steps to improve the delivery of free personal care and has increased free personal care and nursing payments for the first time since they were introduced.
"This should not be a party political issue; it is about what is right for vulnerable older people in Banff & Buchan and across Scotland."
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
