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SNP and Scottish Labour set out their policies to improve care for the elderly

THE SNP and Scottish Labour set out their policies to improve care for the elderly today ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.

After the SNP government recently proposed a pay rise of at least 4 per cent for NHS staff, Labour said that care workers should now be given a similar offer.

Setting out his stall before the May 6 vote, Scottish leader Anas Sarwar said that care workers are currently being offered a pay rise of 20p — a situation that he branded “shameful.”

With care workers reportedly earning a median wage of £9.50 per hour, Mr Sarwar said that Labour MSPs will fight for an immediate rise to £12 per hour and a commitment to a further increase to £15 per hour. 

Meanwhile SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon vowed to abolish charges for non-residential social care. She said that the move to make social care free would be part of a national care service, which the SNP aims to implement early in the next parliament.

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