This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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£10 million spending target for care and repair
10/03/1999
Spending on Care and Repair, the scheme which helps the disabled and elderly remain in their own homes, should increase to £10 million by 2002, Scottish Housing Minister Calum MacDonald said today.
Mr MacDonald said:
"Care and Repair enables elderly and disabled owner-occupiers to carry out repairs, improvements and adaptations so they can remain in their own homes. We made it clear in our Housing Green Paper that we strongly support the scheme and wish to see it in place across Scotland.
"We have therefore agreed with COSLA that Care and Repair will continue to be a shared priority for central and local government over the next three years. This year we agreed on a target figure of £5million. I want to see capital spending increase to £7 million next year and to £10 million by 2001-2.
"Increased spending on this valuable scheme will help vulnerable members of society continue to enjoy independent lives. The performance of local authorities will be closely monitored by The Scottish Office and COSLA."
BACKGROUND
1. The Care and Repair scheme provides advice and assistance, recommends reliable tradesmen and oversees major works. It is available to people aged 60 or over who are owner-occupiers, physically disabled or crofters. Assistance is targeted at those in greatest need, particularly those living alone or in unsatisfactory conditions, in poor health or with a physical disability.
2. Capital funding for the actual works comes mainly from improvement and repair grants by local authorities, though clients also contribute. The value of works completed in 1997-98 was around £6 million (including the clients' own contributions), covering some 1,400 homes. Revenue funding for local project teams is generally provided on a 50-50 basis by local authorities and Scottish Homes, at a cost of around £1.2 million in 1997-98.
3. To match the rise in gross capital funding, Scottish Homes has agreed to increase its contribution to the revenue costs and COSLA has agreed to encourage local authorities to do likewise.
4. Care and Repair was launched in Scotland in 1987 as a result of a growing and successful Care and Repair programme in England and Wales. Originally there were 8 pilot projects funded by the scheme, initially managed by Shelter (Scotland) and Age Concern (Scotland). The scheme is now available in 24 local authority areas and one more local authority is expected to introduce the scheme in 1999-2000.
5. The cost of grants given to owners benefiting from the Care and Repair scheme is met from the gross capital resources available to local authorities which were announced today.
News Release: 0580/99
10 March 1999