86.Section 30 requires the Scottish Ministers to periodically make publicly available their assessment of social care needs over a 10 year period. The phrase “social care needs” is not defined for the purposes of the section and therefore falls to be given its ordinary meaning (having regard to the context).
87.The first report is to be prepared in 2026, and will therefore provide a projection for 2027 to 2037.
88.The next report is to be prepared 5 years after the last was due. Therefore, the second report will have to be laid before the end of 2031 and will provide a projection for the period 2032 to 2042.
Overview of the Act Overview of Part 2 Projecting care needs