Minister refuses to rule out ditching care service

Scotland's social care minister has refused to rule out the government completely ditching plans for a National Care Service after announcing another delay in its introduction.

Maree Todd said she remained "absolutely committed" to the flagship plan, which aims to transfer responsibility for social care from councils to a new national body.

She said ministers would reflect on "the level of opposition" from trade unions and the local government body Cosla before a new timetable is worked out in the new year.

But she insisted it was clear that the status quo was not acceptable and the way social care is delivered in Scotland must change.

When asked if she could guarantee the bill could not be scrapped, Todd told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We need to reflect on what we have heard over the last few weeks.

"That’s why Parliament put a pause in the legislation and we will regroup and find a way forward.

"Every party in the chamber needs to listen to those voices who are really struggling to access high-quality social care around our country.

"We need to put our politics to the side and put our shoulder to the wheel in delivering the change that they want to see."

Confirming the latest delay on Thursday, First Minister John Swinney had said more time was needed to consider views and "get the proposals right".

Opposition parties are against the plans, which have already been pushed back by three years due to financial pressures and uncertainty over costs.

MSPs were due to consider potential amendments to the bill later this month.

But the health secretary said the there had been no decision on how the final bill would be formulated, as the government continues to seek support from MSPs.

It comes after the Scottish Greens withdraw their backing last month, meaning there was not enough support for the plans at Holyrood.

Council body Cosla and trade unions previously withdrew support, while health boards and care organisations also expressed concerns.

The SNP is in power as a minority administration after a power-sharing agreement with the Greens collapsed in April.

They must now rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation at Holyrood.

Maree Todd said she believed there was "a great deal" that local authorities and the unions agreed on with regard to the National Care Service proposals.

She said: "We agree on developing a national social work agency. We agree on the right to breaks for unpaid carers.

"But we are a minority government. I have to listen, in particular with regard to the parliamentary process."

Scottish Conservative party chairman Craig Hoy branded the National Care Service plan a "huge power grab on councils".

He told Good Morning Scotland the Scottish government had "completely and utterly botched" the introduction of the care service bill.

"What the Scottish government has done is spend the last three years with a deeply flawed concept which has now lost support right across Scotland," he said.

"We warned them at the outset that this was what was going to happen and, yet again, the SNP government didn't listen."

Meanwhile, the Scottish Care agency - which represents the independent social care sector - has called on Scottish ministers to soften the blow of a looming National Insurance rise.

Its chief executive Dr Donald Macaskill said the increase in employer contributions planned by the UK government could put up to half of smaller Scottish care homes out of business.

Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray has described Chancellor Rachel Reeves' National Insurance plans as "crazy".

He said they would impact public services and economic growth, and insists the chancellor should have replicated Scottish income tax changes instead.

Mr Gray said Scottish ministers would take steps at the budget “to do everything we can to support public services” but there should not be an expectation that the Scottish government has to mitigate “poor” UK government decisions.