Good morning. Sandesh Gulhane touched on the issues involving criminal justice, health and assessment, and you spoke in your opening statement about the collaboration that is required between health, education and social care. We have had members’ business debates about eating disorders, which are also linked with neurodevelopmental conditions. I recently met the Dumfries and Galloway Ehlers-Danlos group, which identified the issue of co-existing and co-occurring conditions such as dyslexia and ADHD. I am thinking about eating disorders such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. It is all very complex, which is why, I assume, there needs to be collaboration, co-working and all that engagement. I just want to highlight the complexity of everything.

I have a quick question that will pick up on your comments on stigma and helping to support people in the work environment. When I was an NHS educator, we used Turas, which is a digital training platform from NHS Education for Scotland. NES created and delivered a foundations of neurodiversity-affirming practice webinar in 2023. That is recommended for all health and social care staff, but the organisation does not seem to be tracking whether that has been delivered or what numbers have received the training. It is fair enough to recommend that as a starting point for all staff, but does that mean that it is being delivered to all staff?

The training is a great way of creating a neuro-affirming work environment so that people who are clinical educators—as I was—can understand what works best for people who might be autistic or might have ADHD. Is there a way of finding out how that training is being delivered by health boards?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. It looks as though my app did not connect for that vote. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I couldnae connect, and I would have voted no.

The UK is delivering less than half of the United Nations target for international development. Will the First Minister describe the further evidence, which he heard about on his recent trip, of the damage that has been caused by wider cuts to international aid budgets?

I recognise the hard work on which Mr Ross has embarked while introducing his member’s bill. Having taken a member’s bill through the Parliament in the previous session, I know how much hard work it is for a member and their team, and how much support from the excellent non-Government bills unit is involved.

I also understand and acknowledge the principles that lie behind the bill. The minister already described the wider approach and policy measures on housing, employment and healthcare that are necessary to address recovery from addiction.

I would like to make a couple of pages of progress.

Every life that is lost due to alcohol and drugs has a devastating, heartbreaking and tragic effect on families and communities.

For the debate, I will keep my comments focused on the evidence that we took, as I am a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I will also focus on the stage 1 report.

No, I will continue speaking, because I have a couple of pages left of my speech that I would like to finish.

During and since the Covid pandemic, we have seen the advances of Near Me appointments and video consultations—they should be taken into consideration should the bill progress. Video or remote consultations suit people in rural areas for a number of reasons, such as those relating to travel, transport, time and privacy.

The committee also heard concerns about the three-week timescales for individuals to commence treatment that are proposed in the bill, which might cause challenges in the quality and choice of treatment and could, again, lead to restrictions of treatment.

I am conscious of time, Presiding Officer. As can be seen throughout the report and heard from speakers across the chamber, there are many calls for changes to be made, and so many proposed alterations would require additional scrutiny and additional time. Some of the requested changes are not insignificant and would leave the bill significantly different from the original bill that was proposed. For that reason, I cannot support the bill at stage 1.

A lot of time and consideration was given to my member’s bill, and we took months of evidence on Douglas Ross’s bill at the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

I will focus on the evidence that we took at the committee. We need to ensure that our policies are effective to help to support some of the most vulnerable people in society. Our committee heard directly from individuals and organisations and conducted an open consultation for anyone to give their views on the bill. The responses were many and varied, so I will pick up just a few.

The Highland alcohol and drugs partnership said:

“The Bill, as it is currently drafted, is unlikely to bring the transformative change that is urgently needed”.

The Scottish Association of Social Work submitted:

“We also have reservations about the current requirement to be abstinent before accessing some medical interventions. We believe that this represents a barrier to early help and for some people may be one that they cannot overcome.”

Aberlour said:

“we believe the Bill is too narrow in its idea of the treatment that should be available. The focus appears to be on residential rehabilitation that is abstinence based.”

I will cover a few points from the stage 1 report, including points made in the executive summary. Committee members have already referred to a number of clear points.

The families and carers of individuals who are experiencing harm from drug or alcohol use expressed disappointment that the bill makes no reference to the crucial role that family and carers play in supporting an individual through their treatment and recovery. However, I note that Mr Ross is prepared to re-examine that if the bill progresses.

Our report calls on Douglas Ross to consider further how trauma-informed practices can be properly reflected in the bill.

We heard evidence regarding the use of language and definitions. I feel it myself, as I have raised the issue of stigmatising language on numerous occasions in debates and questions in the chamber. There should be a minimum requirement for education to be provided to any health professional, as anyone in healthcare could come into contact with a person who is experiencing harm from substance misuse.

The general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing has said:

“Health and care services would cease to function without migrant nursing staff.”

Does the First Minister agree with that statement, and will he outline what assessment his Government has made of the impact of the Labour Government’s new immigration rules on vital essential workers in Scotland’s national health service?