Chamber and committees

The Scottish Good Practice Statement on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) clearly highlights that some psychological therapies, such as graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are not effective for everyone and it specifically states their use remains controversial. It also advises people with ME should not be pressed into accepting unwanted treatments and, as with all other medical conditions, have the right to refuse any specific treatment offered.

The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland recognise the World Health Organisation definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) as a neurological condition. Healthcare professionals are expected to be aware of recognised guidelines, such as the National Institute of Care and Excellence and the Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME/CFS, and to treat people, so they receive appropriate care and support for their symptoms, regardless of the professional's personal views.

We are committed to ensuring that people in Scotland living with ME are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care. We continue to work with the neurological community, including those living with ME, to develop Scotland’s first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions. We are carefully considering feedback received during a recent consultation and will publish our final plan later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22686 on 14 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Health and Social Care Standards took effect on 1 April 2018. The Standards seek to provide better personal outcomes for everyone and to ensure that the human rights we are all entitled to are upheld. The Standards are focussed on the individual experiences of people using services and underpinned by five principles: Dignity and respect; Compassion; Be included; Responsive care and support; and Wellbeing.

The Engender report identified key issues of concern about disabled women’s reproductive rights. All women have a right to good sexual and reproductive health care. Achieving this is a key aspect of gender equality being reached, but we will not achieve this unless all women receive quality care, and this must include disabled women. The Engender report has been considered by Ministers across key portfolios and action is being taken. For example, for the first time we have included priority actions on sexual health and parenting rights in our learning disability strategy “the Keys to Life”, published in March 2019. It recognises the rights of women with learning disabilities to enjoy and maintain sexual relationships, addresses discrimination around reproductive rights and recognises the need for appropriate sexual health and parenting education supported by access to services.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that sexual health services in Scotland are all-inclusive and accessible to all disabled women. Following the publication of the Engender report, we have contacted all Sexual Health lead clinicians to learn what can be done to improve disabled women’s experience of sexual health services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22686 on 14 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Progress is continuing on a fully integrated National Health and Social Care Integrated Workforce Plan, setting out our priorities for the health and social care workforce Scotland will require for the future. As with the previous three parts of the National Plan, we are working with stakeholders to ensure their views are fully and carefully considered and reflected. The Integrated Plan is being co-produced and will be jointly published with COSLA later this year.

The Housing First Pathfinder Programme is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Corra Foundation, Glasgow Homelessness Network and Social Bite.

Heriot Watt University have been appointed to undertake a full and independent evaluation of the Housing First Pathfinder Programme. This will include participation from across each of the local authorities involved, front line service providers including third sector organisations, and also service users. In addition Glasgow Homelessness Network are publishing a monthly tenancy tracker to chart progress and high level outcomes. The tracker is published monthly at: http://www.ghn.org.uk/shien/housing-first/housing-first-tracker/ .

As set out in the answer to S5W-21243 on 5 February 2019, the “People, Past Events and Societies” element of the curriculum provides teachers with the flexibility to choose topics which meet the needs of their pupils and this can include learning and teaching about the transatlantic slave trade. The educational resources referred to in the previous answer included issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation today as well as the transatlantic slave trade in order to help young people understand that lessons from the past are not always learned from in society today and that people of all races and genders are still exploited in our modern world. Education Scotland provide such resources to support teachers in helping pupils develop a balanced and informed understanding of past people and events, their impact on how our society has developed and lessons for our future. It is up to teachers to decide whether and how to use these resources in their learning and teaching.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Housing First approach ensures those with multiple and complex needs are allocated settled accommodation with the intensive support they may need, individually tailored and provided to them in these mainstream tenancies, rather than through supported accommodation to develop 'tenancy readiness'. Typically an individual who has addictions issues would qualify.

At the end of March 2019 a total of 56 Housing First tenancies had started across the five pathfinder cities participating in the programme.

STEM Bursary Scheme The Scottish Government has included home economics in the STEM bursary scheme which allows students to obtain a bursary of £20,000 to study for a PGDE in home economics. Home economics is the only subject in the curriculum which can address issues around food in the twenty first century and give young people the knowledge, skills, capabilities and attributes they need to make informed, healthy food choices now and in the future.

Scottish Government has worked with GTCS and Initial Teacher Education Establishments to promote Home Economics as a viable career pathway and to increase significantly the number of Home Economics PGDE places available for students as an emerging trend of alternative routes into teaching.

Scottish Government working with Education Scotland has promoted the bursary scheme through the Home Economics Lead Officer (HELO) network who have direct links to Head Teachers and Education Managers. This network is key to the promotion of Home Economics in Scottish schools with the intention of increasing the number of Home Economics teachers across Scotland over the next few years.

Food for Thought Fund 2012 – 2021

The Food for Thought Fund gives financial support to develop food and health as a context for learning. The fund aims to improve practitioner confidence in providing progressive, high quality, skills based learning experiences which help to embed food education into the ethos of the establishment.

Through Food for Thought funding we are inviting practitioners and school leaders to make the most of the opportunities that exist and to take forward actions that a lack of resources had previously inhibited.