'LAST week saw the final reading of the Scotland Bill at Westminster – Under the Bill, the Scottish Parliament will become one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world with powers to set rates and bands of income tax from April 2017, financial powers to keep half of all VAT receipts, and the ability to make changes to welfare benefits and create new payments.
Under new powers, being devolved to the Scottish Parliament MSPs, will be the responsibility over Carer's Allowance.
As an MSP I have had the pleasure of meeting and helping many carers over the years. I know that carers provide care for their loved ones without ever thinking about the sacrifices which they make and it is estimated that carers save the NHS across the UK £87 billion every year in potential care costs.
Across Scotland, husbands, wives, partners and parents are looking after a loved one on a full-time basis. That alone makes them unsung heroes. But they are also saving the taxpayer billions of pounds by ensuring that someone who needs help can get it at home.
With £2.5bn worth of welfare payments being transferred to Holyrood, all parties will have to outline how they intend to support those in need – Scottish Conservatives have started that debate by laying out how we will increase the Carer's Allowance to the same level as the Jobseeker's Allowance. The increase in the allowance will amount to a £600 a year increase in support for carers across Scotland.
Nobody becomes a full-time carer because of money – they do it out of compassion – but as well as our recognition and our thanks, they deserve a little extra help and we want to make sure they get it.
For readers perhaps more importantly who will pay, the public debate about our country's future must now move on from questions over the constitutional process and onto the real business of using power to improve people's lives.
As an MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife I am always available to help local constituents with any problems and can be contacted on the following: Elizabeth Smith MSP, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP Tel: 0131 348 5000 Email:elizabeth.smith.msp@scottish.parliament.uk'
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