Question reference: S6W-01720
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representation people with autism are entitled to in relation to decisions by local public bodies that affect them, and how this is monitored (a) nationally and (b) regionally.
Answer
While the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, it is for the regional health & social care partnerships to determine the level of services that are required to meet local needs and to arrange an appropriate and suitable range of services to meet these local needs, as mandated under statute in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act.
Local Authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers are set out in statute and as such are entirely separate from the Scottish Government, however it is the expectation of the Scottish Government that Local Public Bodies will operate their own autism strategies which will involve engaging with Autistic people in relation to decisions that affect them in an accessible way.
a) This is not monitored nationally.
b) This is a matter for local public bodies. The information requested is not held centrally.