Chamber and committees

Data on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times data have been collected nationally since January 2010, although initially data were very incomplete and of poor quality. Waiting times information has been published quarterly since August 2012.

Some NHS Boards provide CAMHS services for all those aged under 18, while others offer services to those over 16 only if they are in full time education.

Data are provided below. The completeness issues which affect the comparability of Psychological Therapies waiting times over time do not affect CAMHS waiting times. Therefore the following table shows all quarters in one table.

Table 1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Waiting Times - median weeks waiting for patients seen in Scotland. Quarterly - January-March 2014 to April-June 2018.

NHS National Services Scotland: Information Services Division (ISD) holds data on patients admitted to hospital. The following table presents the number of adult patients (people aged 18 years old and over) with a main diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders discharged from hospitals in Scotland for the financial years 1999-00 to 2015-6, broken down by year and specialty.

Number of adult patients (aged 18 years and over) with a main diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders discharged from hospitals in Scotland - financial year and specialty type, 1999-00-2015-16.

I am delighted that we are making excellent progress on our affordable homes target for Scotland during the current Parliament. The latest Quarterly Housing Statistics show that since April 2016 to end June 2018 we have delivered 17,337 affordable homes, 10,641 of which are for social rent – keeping us well on track to deliver our very ambitious target of delivering 50,000 affordable homes with 70% for social rent.

This government can be very proud of its record on affordable housing having now delivered more than 78,000 affordable homes since 2007.

Data on average waiting times for mental health treatment for adults is not available for 1999 onwards.

Data on Psychological Therapies (PT) is available, but PT does not cover all adult mental health services. Also, PT data will include CAMHS treatment as it is not possible to separately identify adults and children in the Psychological Therapies data collection.

NHS National Services: Information Services Division (ISD) have collected quarterly data on waiting times for Psychological Therapies since 2011 although initial data was incomplete and of poor quality.

Also, due to ongoing issues with data completeness throughout 2014 to 2017 a consistent, comparable time series is not available. The most recent (monthly) published data on waiting times collected (since October 2017) is shown in the Table 1 below. The earlier (quartery) time series is shown in Table 2 but is not directly comparable with Table 1.

Table 1. Psychological Therapies Waiting Times - median weeks waiting for patients seen. October 2017 to June 2018

The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and local authorities, to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities are the responsibility of relevant local agencies. It is therefore the responsibility of NHS boards, local authorities and Integration Authorities to work with their partners and regularly review budgets and spending decisions to ensure they deliver fit for purpose services which respond to the needs of their local population, including for adult mental health services.

Funding for mental health services, including adult mental health services, will continue to be drawn from the overall funds allocated to NHS Scotland and Local Authorities by the Scottish Government.

'Scottish Health Service Costs' is published annually by ISD Scotland including costs and expenditure information for NHSScotland on mental health services ( http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Costs/ ).

Each year the Budget is designed to help ensure that the ambitions set out in Scotland’s Economic Strategy and Scotland’s Labour Market Strategy are supported by economic policies.

The focus of these strategies on innovation, internationalisation, investment and inclusive growth – including via the promotion of fair work and development of skills and employability remain relevant for the economy today. As such, these strategies provide a framework for prioritising spending and the budget provides an opportunity to deliver on the priorities, taking account of changes in the economy – and addressing particular challenges or opportunities..

For example, as a government, we have increased our investment in the economy this year by 64%, as part of our £2.4 billion investment in enterprise and skills. We have the most competitive business rates system in the UK and we are supporting sectoral and business growth, including via the delivery of the National Manufacturing Institute (NMIS) and the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB).

Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, wrote to me on 14 June 2018 to request a variation to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference with respect to its timescale. I have agreed to Lady Smith’s request that the wording is changed to require the Inquiry to report as soon as reasonably practicable. The revised Terms of Reference is now available on the Inquiry's Website . Lady Smith has assured me of her commitment to discharge her duties as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is of the utmost importance that this Inquiry is given the time to investigate its remit thoroughly and properly.

The original Terms of Reference called on the Chair to report to Ministers “within 4 years” of the date of its establishment, which was October 2015, although Lady Smith’s appointment as Chair did not occur until the end of July 2016. It will not be possible to report in that timescale due to the very wide remit of the Inquiry, covering from living memory to 2014, and a very large number of institutions providing child care in the range of settings covered.

It is clear the Inquiry is working hard and good progress is already evident. Evidence has been heard regarding the establishment of a number of providers, research has been undertaken in relation to the nature and prevalence of child abuse, societal attitudes to children, relevant legislative history and inspection systems. The Inquiry’s second case study is drawing near to a close with a third case study commencing in the Autumn. Work continues in preparation of other case studies, research, and analyses of thousands of documents recovered so far.

Lady Smith notes that a large number of applicants have come forward and continue to do so. I want to enable the Inquiry to hear from as many survivors as possible. It must take considerable courage for survivors to approach the Inquiry and talk about their experiences of being in care as children.

Separate from the Inquiry, a substantial amount of research, consultation and engagement has taken place on a potential financial redress scheme in Scotland for survivors of in-care abuse, as part of a wider package of reparations. The Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS) and the SHRC InterAction Action Plan Review Group, which includes survivor representatives, have been undertaking this work in partnership. I understand it is now nearing completion and I look forward to receiving the Group’s recommendations when available.

Scotland is leading by example in tackling climate change, and Scotland’s communities have a key role in securing a strong low carbon economy and creating a vibrant climate for innovation, investment and high value jobs. Our low carbon and renewable sector now accounts for around 58,500 jobs across our country – and has a turnover of £10.5 billion.

Scottish Government supports low carbon investment through a suite of support programmes, including the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP), the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme and the Climate Challenge Fund, carefully assessing projects in order to maximise the wider system benefits of low carbon investment.

The First Minister announced the details of £43 million funding awarded by LCITP for 13 low carbon infrastructure projects across Scotland on
10 May 2017. The funding will be matched by a minimum of £43 million from private and other public sector partners.

These demonstrator projects will benefit communities across Scotland, including Clydebank, Glenrothes, Stirling, Grangemouth, Dundee, Glasgow Gorbals, Glasgow Kelvingrove, Campbeltown, Orkney, Shetland, Fair Isle, and Hunterston in North Ayrshire. LCITP also launched the Innovative Local Energy Systems Funding Call in March 2017 which is targeting rural and remote areas of Scotland, along with small towns.