- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly does not publish waiting time data for children and young people waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments and support, and what plans it has to publish routine waiting time data in the future.
Answer
The Public Health Scotland CAMHS statistics capture children and young people who meet the CAMHS criteria. Children and Young People and their families who have requested support for their neurodevelopmental needs but do not meet the CAMHS criteria are not reported in these statistics.
However, the statistics do capture those children and young people who are on the waiting list and have mental health concerns comorbid with neurodevelopmental issues.
Data relating to the number of children waiting for a neurodevelopmental diagnosis is not currently nationally reported or published. However Health Boards should hold their own data on who is waiting for a neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
It is also important to recognise that not all children seeking a diagnosis will meet diagnostic criteria but may still have support needs. That is why our National Neurodevelopmental Specification makes clear that support should be put in place to meet the child or young person’s requirements when they need it and should not be dependent on a formal diagnosis.
We acknowledge that work is needed to improve the quality of data that we have on neurodevelopmental support and services, including a better understanding of current levels of need and the level of support children and young people currently receive.
We are working with Health Boards and local authorities to improve our understanding of what data is available, and how this could be used to support improvements for children and families.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information and signposting to alternative support is provided to people who are not admitted to child and adolescent mental health services, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as this is the responsibility of NHS Boards. However, the Scottish Governments expects NHS Boards to follow the National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) specification, which includes a clear expectation that children and young people whose referral is not accepted for CAMHS are sensitively and appropriately signposted to a more suitable service, such as our community-based supports.
We have provided local authorities with over £65 million since 2020 to fund community-based mental health and wellbeing supports and services for children, young people and their families. This £15 million per year funding will continue through the local government finance settlement from 2025-26. Examples include mentoring services, art-based therapies, digital services, whole-family supports, counselling services and supports involving sport or physical activity.
Individual local authorities decide which supports and services to put in place in their area based on the needs of their communities.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress made in implementing the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People, including progress made against standard 1: 1.2.
Answer
Standard 1.2 of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification relates to the offer of a first appointment. As set out in the Specification, Neurodevelopmental Services that are delivered locally are the responsibility of Children Services providers. A first appointment could be provided by a number of professionals within a range of agencies, including education, health and voluntary organisations.
The Scottish Government does not collect data on length of waits for neurodevelopmental services centrally. Our focus is on improving support. Our Neurodevelopmental Specification places an expectation on NHS and Children's Services to work together to implement standards, in line with GIRFEC. Crucially, local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and provide support for pupils with additional support needs, regardless of diagnosis.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a relationship between its waiting times target for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) being met in the final quarter of 2024 and the reported increase in the proportion of referrals not being accepted by CAMHS.
Answer
There will always be referrals to CAMHS that are not accepted as CAMHS only provide the right support for a small proportion of children and young people. Children who require neurodevelopmental support are not reported in these statistics unless they have co-morbid mental health issues, but may be included within total referral figures, leading to lower accepted referral rates in some Boards.
The National CAMHS specification includes a clear expectation that children and young people whose referral is not accepted for CAMHS are sensitively and appropriately signposted to a more suitable service, such as our community-based supports.
We have provided local authorities with over £65 million since 2020 to fund community-based mental health and wellbeing supports and services for children, young people and their families. This £15 million per annum funding will continue through the local government finance settlement from 2025-26.
We will continue to work with NHS Boards and partners to monitor the National Specification’s implementation, to improve services and support for children and young people and their families.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported intimation from the British Medical Association that it is considering a formal dispute with it over GP underfunding.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 May 2025
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with EU member states regarding Scotland's alignment with EU policies, in light of the election of President Trump.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2025
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the proposal by Scotland's Rural College to close the animal care unit at its Elmwood Campus in Cupar, following the sale of the farm and closure of the student accommodation.
Answer
I appreciate that the proposed closure of the main building at SRUC’s Elmwood campus will be deeply concerning for affected staff and students.
Although SRUC is an autonomous institution with responsibility for its own strategic and operational decision, I would expect them to ensure that they engage meaningfully with staff affected by these proposals, in line with our Fair Work principles and in doing so explore any alternative options which might see delivery of these courses remain in the locality.
I would also expect any affected students to be appropriately supported by SRUC throughout this period, and to receive timely information about the impact of any disruption on their studies and the options available to them.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 27 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, how it will work with local authorities to improve allocation policies and ensure that these take account of a child’s ethnicity and cultural background, age, disability, number of siblings, special educational needs and neurodivergence when providing temporary accommodation.
Answer
Although there is a clear legal framework within which allocation policies must operate, local authorities have considerable discretion within these constraints to develop their allocation policy and practice to meet the needs of the communities in which they operate.
The code of guidance on homelessness aims to guide local authorities in their duties to assist people who are threatened with or who are experiencing homelessness. It sets out that local authority staff should ensure that accommodation and services are offered on the basis of a thorough assessment of the applicant's support or health needs and that these needs are addressed in a holistic fashion. We remain committed to a fuller review of the code of guidance on homelessness, in consultation with stakeholders – including those who represent the interests of children – once the new homelessness prevention measures have been introduced.
The Scottish Social Housing Charter sets out the outcomes and standards that all social landlords should be delivering for their tenants and other customers. This includes an outcome (outcome 12) that describes what councils should achieve by meeting their statutory duties to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Scottish Ministers will review the current charter in 2026-27 in consultation with stakeholders and this will provide an opportunity to ensure the charter continues to focus on matters that are important to tenants and others that use social landlord services.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 27 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, how it will ensure that children are not forced to move schools when experiencing homelessness.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the disruption a homeless household can experience when placed in temporary accommodation, and is aware of the problems that can arise if accommodation is located too far from the household’s employment, education and health services.
The Unsuitable Accommodation Order states that accommodation is unsuitable if it is not in the locality of facilities and services for the purposes of health and education which are being used, or might reasonably be expected to be used, by members of the household. The exception to this is if those facilities are reasonably accessible from the accommodation, taking into account the distance of travel by public transport or transport provided by a local authority.
It can be challenging for local authorities to place homeless households close to existing family and social networks due to the location of available properties and the high demand in particular areas. The risk assessment conducted as part of the housing support service and allocation process informs the offers of accommodation made.
Local authorities make efforts to accommodate homeless households so they can access the same services or types of services they have previously used. While it is preferable for households to continue to access the same facilities as they have in the past, this is not always possible. The Scottish Government’s code of guidance on homelessness makes clear that it is acceptable for local authorities to offer households access to similar facilities.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 27 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, what steps are being taken to ensure that the reported 10,360 children in temporary accommodation have guaranteed access to primary care and dental services so that these children's needs are met while they continue to wait for a permanent home.
Answer
The service standards in the temporary accommodation standards framework states that local authorities should assess the needs of all members of the household. Assessments should be followed up with referrals and support to enable the household to engage with the relevant housing, health, education, social care service and independent advice services.
The temporary accommodation standards framework also states that local authorities should offer support to enable households to access information and appropriate services, including counselling, substance use, mental health, domestic abuse, medical, dental, optical and money/welfare advice services.