Chamber and committees

Joanna, do you share the view that, if we are to meet the 2038 target, this is when we really need to see more impetus and drive to make that happen and that, if we do not do so, we are at risk of not meeting it?

Thank you. I come now to Joanna Panese, from Scottish Autism. Carmel McKeogh talked about the support that her organisation gives to young autistic people. From national figures, we know that, for the 16 to 64 age group, people with autism have the lowest employment rate compared with those with other conditions. They are right at the bottom. We also know that although autistic people are often university graduates, they find it more difficult than other graduates to find work—and the pay is not as good, I think. Will you say a bit about that, in relation to what the key barriers and problems are?

We had a session with The Usual Place from Dumfries, and we met the young people who work there. What you have said chimes with some of the evidence that we heard in that session.

I should also let members know that, this morning, the Education, Children and Young People Committee published its report on additional support for learning. We have not yet had a chance to look at that report, but that committee has been doing work on the educational side of the issue.

I will hand over to Maggie Chapman.

Thank you. I come now to Charlie McMillan, who is chief executive of the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities. You provided us with the 2018 report by the employment task force. I put the same question to you as I put to the others, only with a bit more focus on what the barriers are and whether the Government has the right policy levers. Our two speakers so far have helpfully talked about what business needs to do to change, but what policy measures has the Government introduced, and what things are lacking that would enable better progress to be made?

To go back to questions on data, is it not the case that we cannot tell from it how many people do or do not need such support?

Perhaps we could follow up on that point.

I will have to look back at the papers for last week’s meeting, but we will follow that up. I thank you all for being generous with your time this morning.

That brings us to the end of our public session, and I move the meeting into private session.

Yes—that is fine. Do you want to comment on the balance between voluntary and paid work, and whether there is a prevalence for disabled people to be expected to do voluntary rather than paid work?

Thank you, Vikki.

I now turn to Heather Fisken from Inclusion Scotland. Heather, I would be interested in finding out whether you know of any additional barriers that have not yet been identified. I also note that, in previous work, the Fraser of Allander Institute has suggested that we are making quite good progress with certain disabilities, but not such good progress with those who have a learning disability or a neurodivergent condition. Do you want to comment on that, too?

My final question is linked to Kevin Stewart’s question on the access to work scheme, about which we have had quite a lot of discussion this morning. Is access to work the main support mechanism for disabled people who wish to access employment, or is it not suitable for people for whom employment would not be their primary source of support? When the committee went on external visits, access to work did not seem to be the main model. I am not sure whether that was because such support is difficult to access or because it is not the right mechanism for some people. Chirsty McFadyen, would you like to comment?