Politics: Where would we be without the help of unpaid carers?
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This week, parliament has gone in to recess for the October break, giving me the opportunity to be back in the constituency and it’s been great to be out and about with a surgery tour.
We’ve held surgeries in Cuminestown, Methlick, New Deer, Mintlaw, Newburgh and Hatton of Fintray throughout the week.
The global pandemic has meant up until fairly recently, my team and I have been unable to carry out street surgeries, so this was a great chance to meet with people in the constituency and hear about issues facing them.
While we haven’t been able to meet in person as much as possible my team and I have been working hard since the pandemic began answering calls, emails and letters, to help support constituents.
I look forward to returning to more normality as it is safe to do so and being able to see more people face-to-face to hear about the issues that my team and I are there to help with if we can.
Last week, the Scottish Government announced unpaid carers in Aberdeenshire would have their Carer’s Allowance Supplement doubled by the SNP Scottish Government.
It comes after The Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill passed its third and final stage at Holyrood, meaning unpaid carers in the north-east and across Scotland will have their supplement doubled to £462.80.
This is the second time the supplement has been doubled – the first time being in July 2020.
Unpaid carers in Aberdeenshire have had an incredibly difficult time during the pandemic and without their heroic efforts our services would have been under greater strain.
That is why the Scottish Government has doubled the Carer’s Allowance Supplement, recognising this vital work and the difficulties that these dedicated carers will face as we head into winter.
Unpaid carers will be facing a squeeze on incomes in the coming months with skyrocketing energy bills and food prices, so the doubling of the carers allowance supplement will provide a vital lifeline for thousands of unpaid carers in Aberdeenshire and across Scotland.
The passing of this Bill is another example of how we are building a social security system in Scotland based on dignity, fairness and respect.
Before recess, I was pleased to be able to get an update from Finance Secretary Kate Forbes about what is being done to help the north-east recover from the impact of the EU withdrawal and the coronavirus pandemic.
It was great to hear how the Scottish Government are actively supporting economic recovery in the north-east by providing close to £100 million to support businesses and additional funding of almost £150 million to councils to help to achieve that.
The Scottish Government is also investing £157 million in the Aberdeen city region and Moray growth deals and more than £14 million to develop the skills that are needed to support regional economic recovery.
Investment of £5million in digital connectivity infrastructure through the Aberdeen City region deal will help to deliver digital projects that will connect about 200 public sector and national health services sites across Aberdeen.
