Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-19618

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions that it has had with COSLA in relation to support or resources for children with low-functioning autism.

Scottish Government works closely with COSLA to ensure children and young people with neurodevelopmental support needs, including those with autism, receive support which meets the standards set out in the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People.

The Specification makes clear that support should be put in place to meet the child or young person’s requirements when they need it, rather than be dependent on a formal diagnosis.

As part of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board, which was co-chaired by COSLA and Scottish Government, a Task and Finish Group was established to support the implementation of the Neurodevelopmental Specification. The Group, which COSLA was part of, recommended undertaking Tests of Change to test and implement aspects of the standards and principles of care outlined within the Neurodevelopmental Service Specification.

The tests of change have involved close partnership working between NHS Boards and local authorities. These are ongoing and learning will be shared nationally to help achieve successful implementation of the Specification across all local areas. The work of the Board has now finished and the Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Sport has accepted its recommendations. The Board’s final report will be published in the coming months.

In addition we are providing local authorities with £15 million per year to deliver community-based mental health services for children and young people. A number of councils have used their funding to put in place supports for autism.

For example, in Inverclyde, the Cygnets Programme provides group and peer support for parents and carers with children and young people who are experiencing difficulties due to autism spectrum condition. West Dunbartonshire offers pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic support and training for families whose child has a new diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

In March 2021, in partnership with COSLA, we published our Towards Transformation Plan as a follow-on to the Scottish Strategy for Autism and the Keys to Life Learning Disability Strategy. The Plan seeks to shape supports, services and attitudes to ensure that the human rights of autistic people and people with learning/intellectual disabilities are respected and protected and that they are empowered to live their lives, the same as everyone else.

We continue to work on delivering the action in our Towards Transformation Plan and also, are currently consulting on proposals for a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill which will inform future strategies for neurodivergent communities, including autistic people.

Question reference: S6W-19297

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for those awaiting gender reassignment surgery within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

The information requested is not currently held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Gender reassignment surgery is a specialised field, and due to the highly specialist nature of this surgery, it is carried out in the UK under a four-nations contract, which is managed by NHS England’s Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS). These surgeries are coordinated by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) on behalf of NHS Scotland.

NSS is in discussion with NHS England’s GDNRSS around the regular provision of these data.

Question reference: S6W-19377

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research carried out on behalf of The Open University in Scotland, which reportedly found that less than a third of businesses have heard of the Scottish Funding Council Upskilling Fund and the Part-time Fee Grant.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people can learn as flexibly as possible fitting in with individuals' life circumstances. That is why SG provide funding through Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for the Upskilling Fund and the Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG) to provide this flexibility to learners looking to study shorter courses or study in their spare time.

We are seeing good evidence of employer engagement across the country on the Upskilling Fund, currently in its fourth year, in a range of curriculum areas. Institutions are working with a large number of employers, including: Scottish Power, FirstPort, NUF Scotland as well as with local authorities and NHS Scotland. The SFC are planning a full evaluation of the fund’s effectiveness and the report can be expected in Spring 2024.

As part of the support package provided by Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS), SAAS continue to actively promote this support through a combination of funding awareness sessions, online campaigns, and through both the Student Information Scotland website and the SAAS website.

Question reference: S6W-19294

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area are currently on waiting lists for breast reconstructive surgery.

Question reference: S6W-19296

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for patients within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area awaiting breast reconstructive surgery.

Question reference: S6W-19035

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will deliver the final purpose and principles for post-school education.

Question reference: S6W-19036

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

The Scottish Government published the Scottish Strategy for Autism in 2011. This was a 10 year strategy which ran until 2021.

In March 2021, we published our Towards Transformation Plan as a follow-on to the Scottish Strategy for Autism and the Keys to Life Learning Disability Strategy. The Plan seeks to shape supports, services and attitudes to ensure that the human rights of autistic people and people with learning/intellectual disabilities are respected and protected and that they are empowered to live their lives, the same as everyone else.

We continue to work on delivering the action in our Towards Transformation Plan and also, are currently consulting on proposals for a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill which will inform future strategies for neurodivergent communities, including autistic people.

Question reference: S6O-02325

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting community-based facilities in the West Scotland region to preserve Scottish culture and heritage.

Question reference: S6O-02271

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that its taxation policy, including in relation to businesses, will have on the strength of the economy.

Question reference: S6O-02256

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to abolish NHS dental charges by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Chamber and committees