A care leader has called for care homes to be exempt from a new ‘green’ workplace parking levy (WPL) introduced by the Scottish government.

Robert Kilgour, chair of Independent Care Homes Scotland, said the levy, which does not apply to hospitals and hospices, would force more people out of the care sector.

Kilgour said: “It is entirely right that the Scottish government gives NHS and hospice staff an exemption from this regressive tax, but how can it then be fair to have selfless care home staff, who are also looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our society, targeted by what is little more than a ‘poll tax on wheels’?”

Councils can impose the levy on employers, including care homes, who provide on-site parking.

Businesses will then need to apply for a licence and decide whether to pay for the charge themselves or pass it onto workers.

Kilgour added: “It is currently proving extraordinarily difficult for many, many care homes to attract staff, and when you consider soaring domestic energy bills and the surge in the cost of living, these proposals will simply force people out of the sector, causing homes to close and putting yet more pressure on our beleaguered NHS by increasing bed blocking.

“Our care homes provide an absolutely essential service to tens of thousands of families and the government should, as a priority, drop its proposal and bring the care sector into line with the NHS and hospices.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Workplace parking licensing gives local authorities the choice to introduce a levy – it is not mandatory. Councils will also have the power to apply exemptions as they see fit.

“WPL has the potential to encourage the use of more sustainable travel, while raising revenue that will be used to improve public and sustainable transport. It supports our commitment to reduce car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030 as part of our climate change goals.

“These discretionary local powers, which are already held by councils in England and Wales, were welcomed by our local authority partners in COSLA and by local leaders of all parties, as well as Transform Scotland, Friends of the Earth and other transport partners.”