Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold data on all adults and children with learning disabilities who have been in hospital over the last five years. Local data will be held by NHS Boards.

The Dynamic Support Register (DSR) provides a mechanism for national data collection on people with learning disabilities and complex care needs, including those whose discharge from hospital is delayed. However, the DSR only collects data on adults (aged 18+ years) and, therefore, cannot provide data on children with learning disabilities who are in hospital. Additionally, as the DSR was established in May 2023, we do not hold data for adults before 2023.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) collect and publish quarterly data, with the most recent collection from 7 March 2025 published on 17 June 2025. At that time, there were an estimated an estimated 1,264 people on the DSR, of which there were 74 delayed discharges.

Additionally, PHS publish monthly data on delayed discharges. The most recent figures for May 2025 can be found here. This data is broken down to Health Board and Local Authority level.

Data provided by the Forensic Mental Health Service Managed Clinical Network to Scottish Government has advised that, from their report of week commencing 30 June, 15 patients with learning disabilities are being treated at the State Hospital. This data is not broken down by length of stay.

The Dynamic Support Register (DSR) provides a mechanism for national data collection on people with learning disabilities and complex care needs. Out-of-area placements are those where the individual is accommodated out with their Health and Social Care Partnership area. Out-of-area placements can be an appropriate option, depending on an individual’s needs and preferences. The focus of the Coming Home Implementation Report is to reduce inappropriate out-of-area placements.

The DSR only collects data on adults (aged 18+ years) and, therefore, cannot provide data on children with learning disabilities who are in out-of-area accommodation. Additionally, as the DSR was established in May 2023, we do not hold data for adults before 2023.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) collect and publish quarterly data from the DSR, with the most recent collection from 7 March 2025 published on 17 June 2025. At that time, there were an estimated an estimated 1,264 people on the DSR, of which 842 were appropriate out-of-area placements, and 45 were inappropriate out-of-area placements.

Additionally, PHS publish monthly data on delayed discharges. The most recent figures for May 2025 can be found here. This data is broken down to Health Board and Local Authority level.

The information requested is not held by Scottish Government, SPS or NHS.

The term learning disability covers a wide spectrum of clinical and supportive needs which vary on an individual basis. A holistic, person-centred approach is taken to support people with their healthcare and any additional learning support needs. An assessment is made of specific individual needs and a care plan will be tailored to these.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38764 on 4 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38765 on 4 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.

There has been no change to the principle use of the Government Car Service (GCS). The ministerial code was updated most recently in 2024 providing clarity on the expectation of ministers.

The latest version of the ministerial code can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2024-edition/.

Use of the Government Car Service is governed by the Ministerial Code. The version in 2007 can be found on the National Records of Scotland archive here:

https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20180130052300mp_/http:/www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47133/0024899.pdf.

There has been several subsequent iterations of the ministerial code which can be found at the following links:

2008 – https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20170408064113mp_/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/276226/0082926.pdf

2011 – https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20180126015215mp_/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/364058/0123666.pdf

2015 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20170901063828/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/2562/downloads

2016 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20241102232007/http://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2016-edition/

2018 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20241027204754/https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2018-edition/

2023 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2023-edition/

2024 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2024-edition/

The service provided by the Government Car Service (GCS) is one which is governed by the ministerial code. The latest version can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2024-edition/.