Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government wants patients to get the help they need, when they need it, and we understand how important a timely ADHD diagnosis is for individuals.

While local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) have responsibility for putting in place services to meet local needs, including the needs of adults with ADHD, we fund the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) to support HSCPs to consider best practice and improve services in the redesigning of neurodevelopmental diagnostic services.

NAIT provides HSCPs with resources to help them support these adults, and works with them to ensure that Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways, which provide diagnostic services and support tailored to the needs of each neurodivergent individual, are implemented.

We also provide funding to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to deliver training resources to meet the needs of staff working in ADHD services across health and social care. These include webinars on Assessing ADHD and Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women, which are available to all NHS and Social Care staff via an online knowledge hub.

Our intention is that these steps will help streamline diagnostic and support processes, thereby reducing existing backlogs.

Following reports from members of the public on 11 November of a number of dead fish found in Linlithgow Loch, SEPA officers inspected the site on the morning of 12 November. During the inspection, no visible signs of pollution were identified and water quality samples, taken at various points around the loch, did not reveal any pollutants. SEPA is satisfied that there is no ongoing pollution incident within the loch.

Some positive progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways report, which aims to provide local single pathways for adult autism and ADHD, including diagnosis and support.

4 Health Boards are undertaking strategic planning to aid implementation. Separately, 2 Boards with established adult autism pathways are working to incorporate ADHD diagnosis and support into those pathways.

However, the Scottish Government recognises that we have more to do to ensure that progress on implementation is maintained.

We are aware that there are differing approaches between NHS Boards in establishing local single pathways for adult autism and ADHD, including approaches that are less neuro-affirming with higher diagnostic thresholds.

We will continue to work with NAIT to encourage these Boards to take approaches aligned to the adult neurodevelopmental pathways report and look to fully implement the recommendations of the report.

Last year we published our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture, which sets out the Scottish Government's long term aspirations for the sector.

The Vision makes clear that communities that host aquaculture should be engaged in the sector’s development, share in its success and be supported through a range of lasting benefits.

Building on recent Crown Estate Scotland aquaculture lease increases, we are working to enhance community engagement through the consenting system, and we have committed to delivering good practice principles for community benefits from aquaculture developments in future. I look forward to discussing and developing the scope and timing of that work with the Scottish Aquaculture Council and other stakeholders.

As set out in the 2024-25 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government has committed to introduce the Natural Environment Bill as part of the year four legislative programme. Due to parliamentary procedure, we are unable to provide the precise date for introduction. The Scottish Parliament will announce the introduction date shortly before the introductory process begins.

When introduced, the Bill will establish the framework for statutory targets to restore and protect nature. It will also include provisions to modernise the way in which national parks and deer are managed and provide powers to update environmental impact assessment and habitats legislation to support delivery of our net zero and biodiversity goals.

We are currently considering all the issues raised in response to our recent consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We will confirm our decisions and the nature and timing of next steps as soon as practicable.

The SPCB recognises the pressures staff face in effectively balancing the responsibilities of work with their personal commitments and is committed to providing appropriate support for staff. A comprehensive range of measures are available to support staff in relation to fertility and other family planning areas. 

The SPCB will, as good practice, support staff by granting non-statutory special leave with pay for assessment or treatment relating to fertility.  MSPs, as employers, also have access to the same time off arrangements for their staff.  Recognising that no two cases are the same, individual circumstances are taken into account.  For example, the SPCB recognises that staff may require time off to attend appointments for IVF/fertility treatment.  Staff may also want to accompany their partner if they are undergoing treatments. 

Time off is provided equal to the duration of an appointment for preparing for treatment, undergoing treatment and accompanying a partner who is undergoing treatment.  MSPs, their staff and parliamentary staff (and their partners) also have access to a free and confidential counselling service which can support those in these circumstances.

A breakdown of the Scottish Government workforce by sex is available in table T7 of the Scottish Government Workforce Statistics Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The latest available data from June 2024 shows that 56.4% of the workforce are female and 43.6% are male.

The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) are finalising the scope of the review of the evidence to support decisions on potential proposals in relation to alcohol marketing and promotion that may be taken forward in future, under devolved powers to ensure it delivers. The commissioning document, including timelines and scope of that review, will be published imminently.

PHS’s review will be delivered independently and will deliver its conclusions solely on the basis of its assessment of evidence.

In February 2022, an application under section 36 of the Electricity Act seeking consent for construction and operation of the Peterhead Low Carbon Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station was formally lodged with the Energy Consents Unit. This is currently before Ministers for determination and as such, it would be inappropriate for Ministers to make any comment.