Chamber and committees

The Scottish Good Practice Statement on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) clearly highlights that some psychological therapies, such as graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are not effective for everyone and it specifically states their use remains controversial. It also advises people with ME should not be pressed into accepting unwanted treatments and, as with all other medical conditions, have the right to refuse any specific treatment offered.

The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland recognise the World Health Organisation definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) as a neurological condition. Healthcare professionals are expected to be aware of recognised guidelines, such as the National Institute of Care and Excellence and the Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME/CFS, and to treat people, so they receive appropriate care and support for their symptoms, regardless of the professional's personal views.

We are committed to ensuring that people in Scotland living with ME are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care. We continue to work with the neurological community, including those living with ME, to develop Scotland’s first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions. We are carefully considering feedback received during a recent consultation and will publish our final plan later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22686 on 14 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Health and Social Care Standards took effect on 1 April 2018. The Standards seek to provide better personal outcomes for everyone and to ensure that the human rights we are all entitled to are upheld. The Standards are focussed on the individual experiences of people using services and underpinned by five principles: Dignity and respect; Compassion; Be included; Responsive care and support; and Wellbeing.

The Engender report identified key issues of concern about disabled women’s reproductive rights. All women have a right to good sexual and reproductive health care. Achieving this is a key aspect of gender equality being reached, but we will not achieve this unless all women receive quality care, and this must include disabled women. The Engender report has been considered by Ministers across key portfolios and action is being taken. For example, for the first time we have included priority actions on sexual health and parenting rights in our learning disability strategy “the Keys to Life”, published in March 2019. It recognises the rights of women with learning disabilities to enjoy and maintain sexual relationships, addresses discrimination around reproductive rights and recognises the need for appropriate sexual health and parenting education supported by access to services.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that sexual health services in Scotland are all-inclusive and accessible to all disabled women. Following the publication of the Engender report, we have contacted all Sexual Health lead clinicians to learn what can be done to improve disabled women’s experience of sexual health services.

Progress is continuing on a fully integrated National Health and Social Care Integrated Workforce Plan, setting out our priorities for the health and social care workforce Scotland will require for the future. As with the previous three parts of the National Plan, we are working with stakeholders to ensure their views are fully and carefully considered and reflected. The Integrated Plan is being co-produced and will be jointly published with COSLA later this year.

At the end of March 2019 a total of 56 Housing First tenancies had started across the five pathfinder cities participating in the programme.

The Housing First Pathfinder Programme is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Corra Foundation, Glasgow Homelessness Network and Social Bite.

Heriot Watt University have been appointed to undertake a full and independent evaluation of the Housing First Pathfinder Programme. This will include participation from across each of the local authorities involved, front line service providers including third sector organisations, and also service users. In addition Glasgow Homelessness Network are publishing a monthly tenancy tracker to chart progress and high level outcomes. The tracker is published monthly at: http://www.ghn.org.uk/shien/housing-first/housing-first-tracker/ .

The Housing First approach ensures those with multiple and complex needs are allocated settled accommodation with the intensive support they may need, individually tailored and provided to them in these mainstream tenancies, rather than through supported accommodation to develop 'tenancy readiness'. Typically an individual who has addictions issues would qualify.

As set out in the answer to S5W-21243 on 5 February 2019, the “People, Past Events and Societies” element of the curriculum provides teachers with the flexibility to choose topics which meet the needs of their pupils and this can include learning and teaching about the transatlantic slave trade. The educational resources referred to in the previous answer included issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation today as well as the transatlantic slave trade in order to help young people understand that lessons from the past are not always learned from in society today and that people of all races and genders are still exploited in our modern world. Education Scotland provide such resources to support teachers in helping pupils develop a balanced and informed understanding of past people and events, their impact on how our society has developed and lessons for our future. It is up to teachers to decide whether and how to use these resources in their learning and teaching.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) provides a broad set of national guidance to support schools in developing their curriculum. However, the specific content of teaching programme is decided by schools and local authorities in order to meet children’s and young people’s needs at local level.

Guidance on teaching of Nutrition and healthy eating comes under Food and Health in the Health and Wellbeing Experiences and Outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence beginning in Early Years, continuing through primary school and delivered predominantly via Home Economics in secondary schools. The Health and Wellbeing Experience’s and outcomes and Benchmarks are a set of clear and concise statements about children's learning and progression in each subject area, including Food and Health/Home Economics. They are used to help plan learning and to assess progress.

https://education.gov.scot/Documents/health-and-wellbeing-eo.pdf .

Curriculum for Excellence outlines the entitlement for children and young people to experience a number of Broad General Education Experiences and Outcomes from 3-15 education beginning at early learning and child care stage and continuing through primary school right up to S4-S6.

Benchmarks make clear what learners need to know and be able to do to progress through the levels, and to support consistency in teachers’ and other practitioners’ professional judgements .

Food education permeates every area of the curriculum and is a great context for real life learning. Learning to cook is a skill for life. The Good Food Skills resource supports practitioners with information & activities in relation to the classroom management and teaching of practical food education and skills from early level to fourth level. The importance of Home Economics teachers within secondary schools should be emphasised in relation to building on prior learning from primary school experiences, and teaching combined health, nutrition and practical skills.

The resource will build knowledge and understanding appropriate for every level and offers a skills progression framework with suggested recipes which match the skill set of learners at every level. This will ensure highly effective teaching & learning experiences for children and young people relating to practical food education.