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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-29520

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
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).

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.

Question reference: S6W-29521

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage the employment of more people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence (LDAN) in the public sector.

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to encourage the employment of people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence in the public sector, including investment of up to £90 million in employability services in the 2024-25 financial year.

We are delivering all-age, person-centred, tailored employability services to those further from the labour market, including people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence, and those with health conditions, through locally designed services such as No One Left Behind.

Under No One Left Behind, participants can access person-centred support to gain employment, which includes roles within the public sector. From summer 2025 all local employability partnerships will have an enhanced specialist employability offer which may be beneficial for those with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence.

We are also undertaking work internally to encourage the employment of people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence within the Scottish Government as a public sector body.

The Scottish Government launched its Diversity and Inclusion Employer Strategy in April 2024. This sets out how the organisation will make further progress towards our employer equality outcomes. It is complemented by an action plan for 2024 - 2027 setting out what we will do to achieve this, and when we will do it. Improving the experience of disabled applicants and employees is an integral part of this plan, and employees who are neurodivergent, are autistic and/or have learning disabilities are a central focus of our activity.

Question reference: S6W-29555

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6O-03720

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
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.

Question reference: S6W-29087

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-29085

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-29086

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6F-03302

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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.

Question reference: S6W-29088

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many premises in Scotland currently have gambling licences.

Question reference: S6W-29089

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections of premises in Scotland with gambling licences have been carried out in each year since 2010.