By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SCOTTISH Government is to pump an additional £40 million into providing free personal and nursing care for the elderly to plug a black hole in the flagship policy.

A review of the policy by Lord Sutherland, who chaired the royal commission that led to the introduction of the policy, said ministers had to find £40 million to “stabilise the policy in the short term.”

He also called on the UK Government to reinstate the £30 million-a-year attendance allowance which was withdrawn for those in care homes when the policy was introduced.

Yesterday Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that the funding gap would be met in full and confirmed that the controversial decision by the UK Government to withdraw the attendance allowance would be on the agenda at the next meeting of the UK joint ministerial committee.

The minister also said that the government plans to bring forward new legislation to clarify charging for food preparation.

“Lord Sutherland’s report confirmed that free personal and nursing care (FPNC) policy has both widespread support and is delivering real benefits to tens of thousands of older people,” said Ms Sturgeon.

“The Scottish Government will provide additional funding of £40 million per year to local authorities from next year to help stabilise this vital policy.

“Everyone involved in delivering FPNC agrees we must ensure that the additional funding delivers improved services for our most vulnerable older people, and addresses the aspects of the policy that have lacked clarity, such as charging for food preparation.”

The minister told parliament that as regards food preparation the present legislation is not clear, and that since 2002 a number of councils have removed charges, but eight councils still charge.

Pledging new legislation Ms Sturgeon said, “The effect will be that councils are not entitled to charge for food preparation.

“This will mean that people assessed as requiring assistance, for example with the preparation or reheating of meals or assistance with eating, will not be charged.”

Ms Sturgeon described the decision by the UK Government to remove attendance allowance payments as “deeply unjust.”

She said, “The Sutherland Review concluded that the UK Government was wrong to stop payments of attendance allowance for residents in Scotland, while continuing to make it available for those living in the rest of the UK.

“Clearly it is wrong that the Scottish budget should bear those costs.”

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities health spokesman Ronnie McColl, welcomed the announcement.

He said, “Over the past year, we have had a very productive working relationship with the Scottish Government and we are hopeful that we will soon be able to conclude our discussions on the policy issues referred to by the cabinet secretary.

“The £40 million additional resources which the government has found to address the funding deficit will be used to further improve outcomes for vulnerable older people.”