- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 18 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to educate (a) communities and (b) businesses to recognise and support people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence (LDAN).
Answer
The Scottish Government is already engaged in work to educate communities and businesses to recognise and support people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence.
The differentminds website (Different Minds | Autism Scotland) was launched in 2020 to provide clearer information on autism. It aims to deliver a better understanding of autism and dispel myths surrounding it, leading to greater acceptance and increased awareness. The site and its resources have been co-produced with autistic people.
The Scottish Government also funds an organisation called Into Work, through the Autistic Adult Support Fund. This helps various organisations throughout the country to educate employers and offer support on how to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people or those with a long term health condition. Autistic people and their support needs have been both highlighted and supported by Into Work.
We are taking forward the Review of Supported Employment within Scotland (2021). This recommended that work continues to support the professionalisation of the supported employment workforce, including ensuring it is well equipped to provide appropriate support to people with learning disabilities.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it is doing to encourage the employment of more people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence (LDAN) in the Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is committed to building a diverse and representative workforce. The SPCB monitors and reports on the diversity of its staff, including people with a disability. Where a group is identified as underrepresented in the workforce, positive action measures are used to remove barriers and increase representation.
The SPCB is one of a small number of organisations in Scotland to be recognized as a Disability Confident Leader. This accreditation recognises the actions taken to actively encourage the recruitment of disabled people and the support provided to foster career progression. In keeping with this accreditation guidance has been developed for managers to ensure that they take an inclusive approach to recruitment, ensuring that our approach is open and accessible for all. This includes guidance and resources for managers and staff on creating an inclusive workplace for neurodivergent colleagues. Where a colleague with a learning disability, autism or neurodivergence requires support to access the recruitment process or work effectively, an adjustment plan is agreed with them to ensure that appropriate adjustments are put in place and updated, as required.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about improving relations with the European Union, including on rejoining the single market and customs union.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2024
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce gambling clinics to help people with gambling problems.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland as co-leads of the Gambling Related Harms Working group to explore how people experiencing gambling-related harms are able to access the right support, and treatment, across health and social care services.
Treatment Clinics are one avenue of treatment which this work will consider, but we also understand the need for a trauma informed, person-centred approach with more localised options.
The working group is expected to report on the first stage of this work by Spring 2025.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the new UK administration regarding the status of gambling levy legislation.
Answer
Engagement on the development of the gambling levy has continued at official level with UK Government and Welsh officials since the UK General Election on 4 July 2024.
The formal consultation process has concluded; we are currently awaiting publication of the consultation response to facilitate further discussions on the structure of the levy. The next steps will include how a levy could be implemented across GB and we will continue to work with UK Government and Welsh Government on this issue.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact in Scotland, whether it has had any discussions with the UK Government about including video game loot boxes in gambling legislation and regulation.
Answer
The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government at both official and Ministerial level in relation to the development of gambling policy across Great Britain.
The Digital Strategy 2021 “A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world”, set out actions for how Scotland can develop as an ethical digital nation. which commits the Scottish Government to developing and embedding an agreed ethical framework and principles into the way we design and build digital public.
We recognise that the law has struggled to keep up with the pace of change on the internet and acceleration of digital technologies and by setting the example in the public sector through ethical and transparent digital services we would seek to lead the way in fair and ethical practice.
In July 2023 the games industry trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) developed and published UK games industry guidance on loot boxes in response to a UK Government call for evidence.
The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government and Wales on this issue.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024
To ask the First Minister what analysis the Scottish Government is undertaking of any impact that reductions to winter fuel payments will have on people in Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of test purchases, to prevent access by under-18s, have been carried out in premises in Scotland with gambling licences in each year since 2010.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29084 on 26 August 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises with gambling licences have breached regulations in each year since 2010.
Answer
Betting, gaming and lotteries are generally reserved matters and their regulation is primarily the responsibility of the UK Government. The UK Government regulates gambling through the operation of the Gambling Commission which has responsibility for regulating commercial gambling. The Gambling Commission works in partnership with local licensing authorities to regulate gambling in Scotland.
As such, this is a matter for the Gambling Commission and local licensing authorities (i.e. the 32 Scottish local authorities) and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises in Scotland currently have gambling licences.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29084 on 26 August 2024.The Gambling Commission maintains a national register of premises licences for gambling. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
