Young Lives vs Cancer responds to the Scottish Government’s annual budget for 2024-25

On Tuesday 19th December the Scottish Government’s annual budget for 2024-25 was released. The budget included key announcements including a new higher rate of Scottish income tax to fund health and social security and a funding increase for Scottish NHS Boards. The budget also confirmed that Scottish Government health funding is increasing from £19bn in 2022-23 to £19.5bn in 2024-25.

We welcome efforts to protect Scottish benefits in this challenging fiscal environment and are glad to see an announced 6% increase in the Social Security Scotland budget. In particular, the decision to increase Child Disability Payment is very welcome, with payments of CDP due to increase by 6.7% from Spring 2024.  

However, families of a child with cancer face long delays to access the key support this benefit provides, and it is essential that the Scottish Government acknowledges this by not only uprating Child Disability Payment but increasing investment in processing applications to prevent unacceptably long delays. We hope the Scottish Government will be transparent in how it intends to improve access to essential financial support through Social Security Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Young Patients Family Fund provides vital support for some children and young people (up to 18) and their families travelling to hospital when they are an inpatient. In the Budget, it was confirmed that the Fund will be maintained at its 2023-24 level of £4m.  

Our Running on Empty campaign highlights the importance of the Fund – the first of its kind across the UK – for families taking long journeys to cancer treatment who need to stay in hospital, but we know that lots of cancer care doesn’t require an overnight stay, and all young people up to age 25 need this vital support. We’ve demonstrated the potential for the Fund’s eligibility criteria to be extended within its existing resource, and continue to call on the Scottish Government to expand the Fund’s eligibility criteria, to make sure Scotland continues to lead the way in supporting children and young people with cancer and their families. 

In response to the budget, Helen Gravestock, Director of Policy, Communications and Voice at Young Lives vs Cancer, commented: 

“We know this year’s Scottish Government budget takes place on a challenging financial backdrop for the devolved administrations, but the Scottish Government must still do everything it can to make sure children, young people and their families facing cancer in Scotland get the support they need, as soon as they need it.

“We’re glad to see that supporting the Scottish benefits system remains a priority for the Scottish Government. It’s vital that children and young people with cancer and their families are properly supported, and that the support they need the most – such as the Young Patients Family Fund and Child Disability Payment – remain well-resourced and easily available to all who need them. We hope now that focus will turn to expanding the Young Patients Family Fund eligibility criteria so as many children and young people with cancer as possible can access the critical support it provides.

“Young Lives vs Cancer have engaged positively with Scottish Government throughout the year and remain ready to be a constructive partner in ensuring that children, young people and families do not face cancer without the support they need.”