The SNP Government has a proud record of supporting Scotland’s older people: from record spending on NHS Ayrshire & Arran to tackling loneliness, the SNP values our older people and, with its limited powers, has worked hard to make Scotland a great place to grow old.
A re-elected SNP Government will go even further. Make it #BothVotesSNP to:
1. Invest in our NHS
A re-elected SNP Government will increase frontline NHS spending by at least 20% to support and renew our NHS as it recovers from COVID-19; over £2,500 million, half of which will be for community health services.
We will also roll out more mobile health services for direct delivery of care, especially in our rural areas and islands, including Arran and Cumbrae.
2. Create a National Care Service for all
A re-elected SNP Government will establish a National Care Service to oversee the delivery of care, improve standards, enhanced pay and conditions for workers, and better support for unpaid carers – backed by a 25% increase in social care investment.
The SNP has already extended free personal and nursing care to everyone who needs it, regardless of age, and will now go further and abolish charges for non-residential care too.
3. Protect free concessionary bus travel and improve infrastructure
An SNP Government will maintain free bus travel across the country for people aged 60 and over, and make bus travel a more attractive and reliable option with over £500 million investment in bus infrastructure.
We will also establish a Community Bus Fund to support the provision of services in local communities and help North Ayrshire Council explore their delivery – something NAC’s Labour administration committed to four years ago but has made no progress with.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport will also continue to operate rail and ferry concessions.
4. Help in the colder months
We will replace the current UK winter fuel payment with a Winter Heating Payment for older people – maintaining current rates without means-testing – helping around one million households, backed by around £180 million a year.
We will also replace the Cold Weather Payment, which can pay out infrequently, with a new stable annual £50 Winter Heating Payment to low-income households eligible for Cold Weather Payments. This annual investment of £20 million will support 400,000 households with their energy bills.
5. Revitalise our communities
We will help to revitalise our high streets hit by the pandemic, with £275 million investment to support community-led regeneration and town centre revitalisation.
The creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods – liveable, accessible places, with thriving local economies, where people can meet all their daily needs within a 20-minute walk – will be encouraged.
6. Develop and deliver a plan to tackle loneliness
A re-elected SNP Government will develop a £10 million, five year plan to tackling loneliness.
7. Promote culture and creativity
We will protect free access to our National Museums and continue, fund non-national museums and galleries and continue to support our theatres and live music venues, while encouraging creativity from dance and opera to sculpture and painting.
As long as matters such as the state pension remain reserved to the UK Government, Scotland’s older people will unfortunately not receive what SNP believes older people deserve. It will take the powers of independence to change that.
It is now more important than ever that we vote SNP.
On your postal ballot today or in person on 06 May, make it #BothVotesSNP to secure a fairer Scotland for older people.
ENDS
