Tuesday January 20th 2026
Scottish Parliament debating chamber
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
COSLA have warned that the Scottish Budget represents a cut to social care funding in Scotland, creating a ‘concerning and disappointing reality for the people who access and work in social care’.
In both COSLA’s manifesto and pre-budget lobbying, the voice of Scotland’s local government, they expressed a clear and urgent ask for significant additional investment of £750 million to protect and strengthen social care.
Following the budget announcement last Tuesday, COSLA explained that as it currently stands the budget failed to deliver on this. They explained that there is no dedicated, additional funding for social care, and the £160 million allocated for paying the Real Living Wage to adult social care workers fails short of the estimated £175 million cost of the policy commitment.
Adding that ‘this is not additional funding’ and is ‘underfunding of an existing promise’.
Commenting on the investment, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly explained:
“The consequences of this budget are real. Without significant new resources, people will continue to face unacceptable delays for social work assessments and care packages. Services already under immense strain will be pushed even closer to breaking point, and councils will be forced into impossible choices.
“This will directly impact individuals – those who access care and support and those in hospital waiting for care – at a time when our shared ambition should be to shift the balance of care and improve population health. It is for these reasons that COSLA sees this as very poor settlement for local government which fails to address the dire financial situation.
“Social care is fundamental to the wellbeing of our communities.
“The Scottish Budget – which COSLA Leaders agree is very poor – undermines the foundations of a fair and sustainable care system and risks reversing progress toward a model that truly meets people’s needs.
“Quite simply, this Budget is not just disappointing for social care, it is damaging.
“COSLA remains committed to improving the design and delivery of social care and we would welcome the opportunity on offer to take forward focused joint working to support our shared ambition of ensuring those with complex needs are supported in the right setting. But without proper investment, that ambition cannot be realised.”
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