SNP accused on kinship carer funds

Labour has called on the First Minister to deliver on a promise to pay kinship carers the same allowances as those given to foster carers.

The party wants a national standard to be established across Scotland, saying kinship carers – relatives such as grandparents who take on the care of children – currently face a “postcode lottery” of financial support.

Allowances for kinship carers are set by each local authority, meaning the rate can differ depending on where they live.

In 2007, the Labour Party set out proposals to “fast track” £10 million of funding into council budgets so that family members caring for looked-after children would be paid the same rates as foster carers.

Mr Salmond said the issue was “of the most serious concern” and the Parliament would move together to “make progress with the proposals”.

Jackie Baillie, Labour’s health spokeswoman, said: “Alex Salmond’s should finally keep the promise he made over four years ago to Scotland’s kinship carers. The SNP has broken many of their promises, but this is one of the most serious betrayals. It is now over four years since Alex Salmond agreed to Scottish Labour’s demands to spend £10 million to make sure kinship carers are treated on a par with foster carers.

“Yet across Scotland this is still not happening and a forgotten army of carers are struggling to give these children a secure and happy upbringing.”

She added: “A postcode lottery of financial support for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children is simply unacceptable. It is deeply unfair to expect a grandparent or other relative to bear all the expense of bringing up that child just because they are related.”

A 2011 study by grant-giving charity Buttle UK found that there were 15,000 children in Scotland being looked after by family members because their parents were unable to care for them.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government wants Scotland to be the best country in the world to bring up children. That is why we are supporting kinship carers and have done more than any previous administration to address their needs. Through the Children’s Services Bill we are determined to tackle the inconsistencies faced by kinship carers across the country and ensure they receive fair financial support for caring for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.”