By Steve Bargeton, political editor

MSPs yesterday demanded that the UK Government reinstate £30 million of benefits for older people.

Westminster withdrew the attendance allowance to self-funding people in care homes when the flagship free personal care policy was introduced in 2002 by the previous Labour-Lib Dem Scottish Executive.

A review of the policy earlier this year, by its original architect Lord Sutherland, identified a £40 million black hole and called on UK Government to reinstate the allowance.

Yesterday the SNP, Tories and Liberal Democrats backed a motion at Holyrood urging the Scottish Government to “pursue vigorously” the reinstatement of the allowance.

They also supported a Tory amendment calling on eight Scottish councils on a “roll of shame"—including Dundee and Stirling—to stop charging for food preparation.

MSPs also called on all councils which have levied such charges to refund everyone who has been wrongly charged for this service.

In a debate on the Sutherland report, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Holyrood should be allowed to take decisions on devolved matters without “interference” from London.

“Over the next 25 years, the number of older people in Scotland is projected to rise from around 850,000 to almost 1.4 million,” she told MSPs.

“The growth in numbers is particularly concentrated amongst those aged over 90 years of age—the people most likely to require support for their long-term care.”

“That engagement will be easier if the running sore of past injustices over attendance allowance is resolved.

“Indeed, Lord Sutherland said quite clearly that the return of the £30 million attendance allowance funding should be sought ahead of any wider review of funding streams.”

But Labour accused the SNP minority government of trying to stir up a row with London.

“It is deeply disappointing that this government, rather than address the range of issues that matter so much in this debate, again just narrowly want to focus on what will give them an opportunity to fight with the UK Government,” said Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran.

She added, “We do accept and have consistently argued that the resources should come to Scotland.”

For the Scottish Tories, chief whip David McLetchie said it was quite clear in law that councils may charge for shopping, providing food and providing frozen meals.

They are not allowed to charge for chopping up meat or vegetables, mixing ingredients, cooking, reheating frozen meals, putting food on a plate, cutting up food so that it can be eaten, pureeing food, feeding and other assistance with eating, assistance with special diets and prompting to remember to eat.

“Thirteen councils never charged for assisting with food preparation, 11 councils did so initially but no longer do so in light of legal advice but eight —Argyll and Bute, Dundee, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders and Stirling— are still charging for this service,” he said.

“I do not think it is right that older people living in these areas should be the victims of a postcode lottery in the application and implementation of a policy which is meant to be of universal benefit across Scotland as a whole,” Mr McLetchie added.