Official Report 1154KB pdf
Good morning. The first item of business is general question time. In order to get in as many members as possible, short and succinct questions and responses would be appreciated.
Question 1 has been withdrawn.
Forced Adoption
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support those affected by historic forced adoption. (S6O-03870)
I start by saying how sorry I am for the profound pain and loss of historical forced adoption and the lifelong impact that it has had on people’s lives. I extend my deepest sympathies to everyone who has been affected.
Most recently, we held five lived-experience sessions with mothers and adoptees, and we are taking forward actions based on what we heard in those sessions. We continue to fund the charity Health in Mind to offer specialist peer support to those who have been affected by historical adoption, and we are funding Birthlink to manage the adoption contact register for Scotland, which helps to support connections between families who have been affected by adoption.
Since the first anniversary of the formal apology that the former First Minister delivered to those who have been impacted by historical adoption practices, I have been in contact with some campaigners who have shared with me their subsequent concerns. I know that the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise is aware of those concerns, having met the campaigners in June.
As the apology in itself is not the end point for those who are impacted, what is being done, and what more can be done, to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of the post-apology work that the Scottish Government is currently undertaking?
As I mentioned, we held five lived-experience sessions with mothers and adoptees, and I thank everyone who participated in those sessions for sharing their views on such a sensitive subject.
In response to what people told us about the importance of information and awareness raising, we are, as a first step, developing dedicated historical forced adoption pages on the mygov.scot website so that all the information about post-adoption services and help can be found in one place. We are also developing commemorative copies of the national apology, which will be available very shortly; that is in direct response to asks from the affected groups.
We are committed to continuing our engagement with people with lived experience to inform our approach. We heard directly from people involved about the importance of being clear about what is realistically achievable, so we propose to undertake targeted engagement on specific key policy proposals as we go forward.
Great work has been done by the Movement for an Adoption Apology group, and it was a welcome development to see victims receive a formal apology from the Scottish Government.
However, a constituent of mine has expressed concern that, given the passage of time, the truth about the experiences of those who have been impacted will be lost. Has the Scottish Government given any consideration to working with mothers to enable their oral histories to be recorded and archived?
I understand the concerns of the member and her constituent, and I would be happy to consider ways in which to raise awareness of mothers’ experiences of historical forced adoption and the lifelong impact that they have endured, whether that is through oral histories or by any other means. I would be open to discussing any proposals that the member has in that regard, further to her recent letter to the First Minister.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed. (S6O-03871)
Ministers and Scottish Government officials meet regularly with representatives of all health boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to discuss matters of importance to patients and the services that are provided.
This week, Unison reps at the Royal Alexandra hospital came to me with serious concerns about the possible closure of ward 36, which has 22 beds for older people with complex needs. There appears to be no thought-through plan for the ward, staff or the patients. One thousand signatures have already been gathered in a petition opposing the move, which one can only assume is a result of budget cuts.
Has the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care been made aware of the proposal to close that ward and cut 22 beds from the RAH? Does he agree that the move should not go ahead, given the concerns that have been raised by the national health service staff who work there?
Given the statement yesterday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which not only increases bed numbers in England but gives the Scottish Government an extra £3.4 billion, will the cabinet secretary ensure that resources are made available to the health board to protect those vital local services?
I thank Neil Bibby for raising that point. To answer his question directly, I note that that proposal has not been brought to me. It is obviously a local decision to be taken. I respect the local proposals and the local decision making regarding them, but I also respect the issue that Mr Bibby has raised with me on the concerns that have been raised by staff and by the trade union. I would expect NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, if it is taking forward such a proposal, to be consulting on that. There are clear consultation pathways and the Government has clear expectations of boards when they look at service redesign. I do not have the full picture because this is the first that I have heard of it, but I will look into the matter further and make sure that I contact Mr Bibby and other local representatives on it.
Education Funding (Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia)
To ask the Scottish Government whether the £12.5 million of funding that it plans to provide for education in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia was set out in the budget for 2024-25. (S6O-03872)
Supporting international development remains one of the most important ways that Scotland can be a good global citizen. I confirm that those programmes are supported by the international development fund of £11.5 million in 2024-25, as published on 19 December 2023 and approved by Parliament in March. The budget for year 1 of our inclusive education programmes for Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda, which was announced on 15 October, amounts to £1.65 million in 2024-25. Over five years, subject to the usual parliamentary approvals in relation to the annual budget act, we expect the total value of the programme to be £12.5 million.
In Scotland, classroom standards are plummeting and violence is rising. Teacher numbers are declining, secure full-time posts are scarce, and cuts to school hours and assistant numbers are at risk. Currie community high school parent council is writing to the City of Edinburgh Council to express its deep concern regarding the proposed cuts to additional support needs services in our education community. It states that the cuts could significantly affect the quality of education and support for those students who rely on ASN services and wider learners.
Foreign aid is reserved and public cash should be spent at home rather than abroad. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Scottish Government should be prioritising the education of Scotland’s young people first?
Scotland’s international development programme is now entering its 20th year and it has—until now, it would appear—had cross-party support. Spending on international development on inclusive education is minuscule when compared with spending on education in Scotland. I hope that Sue Webber will reflect—as, indeed, will her colleagues behind her who were nodding—on the intervention that has just been made and support the modest but impactful way in which Scotland demonstrates its commitment to being a good global citizen.
Disability Equality Plan
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it has been undertaking with disabled people’s organisations regarding the delivery of its disability equality plan. (S6O-03873)
We remain committed to addressing the significant challenges that disabled people are facing following decades of austerity and a cost of living crisis. This year, we committed £6.1 billion to benefits, including an additional £300 million for adult disability payment. That represents an investment of more than £1.1 billion over and above what we receive from the UK Government.
However, it is clear that disabled people continue to face significant barriers. That is why we committed to delivering the disability equality plan, which lays the foundations for meaningful change. The limitations of our devolved budget mean that it is not always possible to meet the full extent of everyone’s ambitions in this first phase. However, we will continue to work with disabled people’s organisations to build towards a fairer Scotland.
Disabled people’s organisations including Disability Equality Scotland, the Glasgow Disability Alliance and Inclusion Scotland have been in contact with evidence that underlines how disabled people have been disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis across the United Kingdom. Will the minister speak to the existing support that households in Scotland are able to access this winter? Will she outline what further work is being done alongside the DPOs to ensure that disabled people are not left behind in the Scottish Government’s mission to end poverty in Scotland, in light of the disabled people demand justice campaign?
I can give the member that assurance. We introduced the pension age disability payment, which is worth between £290 and £434 a month to people of state pension age who are disabled. The child winter heating payment will help households with severely disabled children to manage the additional costs that they face this winter.
We have secured the agreement of energy suppliers, consumer organisations and DPOs to co-design a social tariff mechanism to evidence its viability. We also reopened the independent living fund, helping up to 1,000 more disabled people to access the support that they need.
This week—almost exactly one year on from telling me that my bill to support transitions for disabled people was not needed and a whole eight years after the Scottish National Party first promised it—the Government delayed the transitions to adulthood strategy, which affects a number of young disabled people. The Government said that it had done that in order to allow sufficient time to support meaningful engagement.
Blaming the people who need that strategy for the Government’s delay is a new low. How many more years will young disabled people have to wait until the Government gets its act together?
I understand the member’s frustrations, and I commend the work that she did on the bill. I reassure her that we are not delaying. I have already outlined the investment and some of the tasks that we are taking forward, and we will continue to progress that work.
Rural Ambulance Provision
To ask the Scottish Government when the health secretary last met the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss rural ambulance provision. (S6O-03874)
I met the chair of the Scottish Ambulance Service on 5 June 2024, when rural ambulance provision across Scotland was discussed. In addition, my officials meet Scottish Ambulance Service management regularly to discuss a range of topics, including ambulance provision across the country. We receive weekly performance reports, which are scrutinised and reported on accordingly.
Earlier this month, a family in Torphins had a terrifyingly long wait for an ambulance during a mother’s labour, after a call was answered by someone in Yorkshire who could not locate their rural address. As was reported in the Sunday Post, the father and the grandmother had to be talked through delivering the baby and then had to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the newborn baby for half an hour before the vehicle arrived. Thankfully, both mother and baby are healthy, but this was a completely horrifying experience that no family should have to endure.
In Aberdeenshire, journeys to Aberdeen royal infirmary can take up to two hours—not including the time waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Does the cabinet secretary think that that is acceptable? What support will be provided to ensure that rural communities have an ambulance service that meets their needs?
I am aware of the media reports, and I give my apologies to the family in that case. As a father, I can understand the difficulty that the family would have experienced and the challenge of going through that process. I recognise that and I understand it.
I have recently corresponded with Alexander Burnett on ambulance provision in his area, and I would be more than happy to meet him to discuss the case and ambulance provision in his area in general.
In recent months, I have been approached by a number of constituents who have highlighted examples of what appear to be unnecessary delays in tasking ambulances in Orkney. I am due to meet the chief executive of the Ambulance Service next month to discuss the issue. Will the health secretary support steps to adopt a more tailored approach in island communities to reduce delays in ambulance call-outs wherever possible?
I know from visits to Orkney, the Western Isles and Shetland that work is under way to take the approach that Liam McArthur sets out. Innovative work is being done in island communities, where there must be an adaptation to the demography as well as to the geography that we are dealing with, to ensure that we are resourcing ambulance services as well as primary care and urgent care need. I would be more than happy to discuss that further with Liam McArthur after he has had his discussion with the Ambulance Service.
The Scottish Ambulance Service is a vital component of emergency care throughout the year, but particularly in the colder months. Will the cabinet secretary outline the efforts that the service is making to prepare for this period, including in rural areas?
Clare Haughey is absolutely right. I thank the Ambulance Service for the critical work that it does, alongside giving my thanks to all health and social care staff at this time of year in particular.
The Scottish Ambulance Service will play a critical role in the delivery of various aspects of healthcare throughout winter, with its key focus being on maintaining a fast and effective response to those who need emergency care and support. Ahead of winter, the service’s management team has been engaging with chief executives and chairs of all health boards across Scotland to plan at a more local level, including by developing plans for urgent care in rural and island communities.
Police Scotland (Investigation of Crime)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland’s extension across Scotland of the north-east pilot of not investigating “low-level” crime. (S6O-03875)
All incidents that are reported to Police Scotland are individually assessed on the basis of threat, harm and risk, investigative opportunity and vulnerability. To suggest otherwise is incorrect. When there is no threat, harm or risk and no line of inquiry, officers will issue the caller with a crime report number and file the incident, with scope to return to it should investigative opportunities emerge.
Police Scotland confirmed to the Scottish Police Authority in June that the proportionate response to crime approach has been adopted across all divisions as of 24 June. That is an operational decision for the service, similar to many forces in England, and the SPA will receive an evaluation report in December.
The people of the north-east have to live through this experiment. Alongside reports of the 16-year-old who, after drinking alcohol on the streets of Elgin, killed Royal Air Force veteran Keith Rollinson after being refused admission on to his coach, we hear reports of Inverurie residents being intimidated by gangs of teens using the town centre as a personal playground, and of Oldmeldrum, Balmedie and Pitmedden residents reporting youths brandishing knives at passers-by. Does the cabinet secretary concede that electing not to investigate certain crimes, coupled with officer reductions and budget cuts, creates a haven for more antisocial behaviour issues across our communities?
I draw Mr Kerr’s attention to the comments and contribution of Assistant Chief Constable Bond, who has said that the impact of the proportionate response to lower-level offences gives
“officers more time to focus on local policing, keeping people safe from harm, protecting the vulnerable, bringing criminals to justice, solving problems, and reducing”
reoffending. The impact of the north-east pilot saw public satisfaction rates increase and freed up 2,657 police officers, all to good effect for communities in the north-east.
Gender
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how many genders there are. (S6O-03876)
The Scottish Government’s position is that of the law. In law, people are either male or female.
I am pleased to hear that Kaukab Stewart agrees with the First Minister that there are two genders but, in official guidance that was published this month, the Scottish National Party Government claimed that there are dozens of different genders—I repeat, dozens. That does not make sense to people in mainstream Scotland. It seems ridiculous for that issue to be the Scottish Government’s focus. Why is the Scottish Government wasting so much time and resource on fringe obsessions?
The Scottish Government did not claim that. The Scottish Government recently updated its guidance for public bodies on collecting data on sex and gender to include a coding framework for free-text responses. The framework is there to help official statistics producers to categorise people who identify as trans and have completed an open-response question about their trans status. The categories were developed on the basis of the most common responses to the question in the 2022 census. The framework should not be interpreted to mean that there are a particular number of genders; it should be used only as a guide to classify responses to the recommended trans status question in surveys.
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First Minister’s Question Time