The Scottish Government has announced a review of the country’s “National Outcomes” – the goals which it says describe ‘the kind of Scotland’ it wishes to create.
First introduced in 2007, the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework (NPF) now includes eleven National Outcomes, including on health, poverty, the environment and education. Progress on each Outcome is measured by a number of indicators, and the outcomes are intended to drive policy and spending decision-making.
The Scottish Government is legally required to review Scotland’s National Outcomes every five years, and the latest review will run until 5 June 2023.
The ‘A Scotland That Cares’ campaign, which includes Oxfam Scotland, as well as over 50 other organisations – such as major care, health and gender focused charities, as well as frontline organisations and think tanks including the Carnegie UK Trust and IPPR Scotland, believes the review must result in the creation of a dedicated new National Outcome focused on care.
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that people who look after others are the absolute bedrock of our society. If we didn’t have the incredible network of women who look after our sick, disabled, elderly and children for little to no reward, then our country and economy would simply grind to a halt.
“Yet for far too long Scotland’s carers have been invisible in our society, invisible in economic measures of success and invisible in the Scottish Government’s vision for the country. As a result, we’ve seen inadequate policy and spending action, and too many people who look after someone have been pushed to breaking point, having been dealt the devastating double blow of both the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, on top of the poverty many already faced.
“It’s time the Scottish Government ends the glaring gap on care in its vision for a successful Scotland. It must use this review to put care at the top of the country’s agenda by creating a new National Outcome to drive progress towards properly valuing and investing in care and all those who provide it. Scotland will soon have a new First Minister, and they must seize this major opportunity to make a generation-defining commitment to build a Scotland that truly cares.”
To coincide with the review, the ‘A Scotland That Cares’ campaign is urging people across Scotland to back the call for a new National Outcome on care by visiting www.ascotlandthatcares.org and sending a letter to the leaders of all major parties asking for their support.
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For more information and interviews, please contact: Rebecca Lozza, Oxfam Media and Communications Adviser, Scotland and Wales: rlozza1@oxfam.org.uk / 07917738450
Notes to editors:
- Find out more about the A Scotland that Cares campaign at www.ascotlandthatcares.org
- Current campaign supporters include: Carers Scotland, Scottish Care, the Scottish Women’s Budget Group, One Parent Families Scotland, Early Years Scotland, Inclusion Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland, MND Scotland, NSPCCC Scotland, MECOPP, the Poverty Alliance and others.
- Scotland’s existing 11 National Outcomes: https://nationalperformance.gov.scot/national-outcomes