Friday 26 January 2018

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Economy

Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government when (a) the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy and (b) its officials last visited Fraserburgh to discuss the Fraserburgh taskforce.

Holding answer issued: 17 January 2018 (S5W-13543)

Paul Wheelhouse: The Fraserburgh Taskforce was established in September 2015 to respond to and mitigate the impact of the job losses at Youngs Seafood following the loss of a significant contract. The taskforce, which met on 6 occasions, was time-limited and sought to co-ordinate a range of short-term activity to mitigate the impact on the individuals affected. At the final meeting of the taskforce in March 2017, members agreed the taskforce had been effective in its primary purpose of responding to the immediacy of the job losses. It was also noted that from those affected by the job losses and were engaged with PACE, only 7% remained unemployed at that time, which compared favourably with other taskforces.

It was agreed at the final meeting of the taskforce that a number of public sector organisations, including the local authority, Scottish Enterprise, and the Scottish Government, would continue to work closely with local stakeholders to take forward some wider economic development projects, including the proposed Seafood Centre of Excellence and the E-Auction system at Fraserburgh harbour, and those discussions are currently ongoing.

In addition, on 4 December 2017 the Scottish Government announced over £300k support to Seafood Sourcing Ltd to establish a new processing factory in Fraserburgh creating around 20 new jobs. The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity was scheduled to visit Fraserburgh that day to visit the new factory and also meet with a range of other stakeholders but the visit was postponed due to illness and is now being rescheduled

Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the (a) work and (b) outcomes of the Fraserburgh taskforce.

Holding answer issued: 17 January 2018 (S5W-13551)

Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13543 on 26 January 2018. 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

Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, other than the local taskforce, what action it is taking to encourage economic development in Fraserburgh, and what discussions (a) the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy has and (b) its officials have had with stakeholders in the area about the effectiveness of this.

Holding answer issued: 17 January 2018 (S5W-13553)

Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13543 on 26 January 2018. 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

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding workers getting the maximum economic benefits from the decommissioning of semi-submersible drilling rigs that were deployed in the North Sea.

(S5W-13845)

Paul Wheelhouse: The decision on where to decommissioning semi-submersible drilling rigs is a commercial matter for the owner, regulated by strict environmental and waste regulations. The Scottish Government are committed to maximising the economic benefits available from decommissioning, and supporting Scottish industry to win valuable contracts. Our Decommissioning Action Plan supported by the Decommissioning Challenge Fund, aims to secure new investment in ports and harbours to ensure Scotland is in a position to win these contracts. We will continue work to ensure the Scottish supply chain understands the potential of the market going forwards, to enable effective planning for these opportunities.

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of onshore (a) decommissioning and (b) recycling work in the offshore oil and gas industry will be carried out in Scotland in each of the next seven years.

(S5W-13846)

Paul Wheelhouse: Onshore decommissioning at Scottish Ports is undertaken in line with the principals of a circular economy, which promotes reuse of material over recycling and disposal where possible. Where reuse of material is not possible, only then are materials recycled.

The Scottish supply chain is already securing a significant amount of work, all while meeting stringent safety and environmental standards. We would expect this success to continue to grow in each of the next seven years, not least as a result of the successful development of projects we are supporting through the Decommissioning Challenge Fund and through our Programme for Government commitment to support further port activity that will widen the range of decommissioning that can take place in Scotland and to firmly establish Scotland as the centre for excellence in the North Sea.

Clearly, given that the location of end of life decommissioning is a commercial decision for operators it is not possible to predict how much of this will be secured by businesses in Scotland, but we will work with the supply chain and those operating key ports and harbours to evaluate the opportunities and ensure the best chance for Scottish Suppliers to win the work.

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to whether the remit of the proposed Scottish National Investment Bank could be widened over the longer term to include the development of a sovereign wealth fund.

(S5W-13929)

Keith Brown: The First Minister appointed Benny Higgins, the Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Bank, to lead work on an Implementation Plan.

The plan will develop detailed proposals for the remit, capitalisation, governance, operating model, regulatory timeline and financial risk management of the bank. It will outline proposals for the future activities of the bank and consider the future development of the institution. Mr Higgins will present his recommendations to the First Minister in February 2018.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding (a) how many and (b) what percentage of tourist sites in each local authority area are considered dementia-friendly.

(S5W-13991)

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold a formal definition of what is considered “dementia-friendly” in respect of a tourist site and does not hold information on the number of tourism sites across Scotland.

Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy 2017-2020, published in June 2017, states that the Scottish Government wishes to see “more dementia-friendly and dementia-enabled communities, organisations, institutions and initiatives.” As well as local projects, such as Dementia Friendly East

Lothian, further information on initiatives is available from organisations such as the Life Changes Trust, whose latest report is available using the url.

http://www.lifechangestrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Dementia%20Friendly%20Communities%20Report%20Designed_1.pdf

Education, Communities and Justice

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Fife College is having to reduce the number of courses that it offers because of reported reductions in its budget.

(S5W-13818)

Shirley-Anne Somerville: Fife College received a real terms increase in funding from the SFC in 2017-18. The SFC provide the budget allocations to College Regions, indicative allocations have yet to be published, however in 2018-19 we will deliver a real-terms increase in funding for colleges. The College reviews its curriculum to ensure that it meets the demands of the economy and needs of current and prospective students.

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that further education (a) courses and (b) student numbers can be maintained, and what analysis it has carried out on the impact on this of the reported reductions in college budgets.

(S5W-13819)

Shirley-Anne Somerville: This government has a strong track record on colleges - over the last Parliament, we maintained 116,000 full-time equivalent college places.

We will continue this commitment, concentrating learning on recognised qualifications.

In 2018-19 we will deliver a real-terms increase in funding for colleges of 9.4%. Our commitment to college funding is illustrated by an allocation of over £7 billion of investment (resource and capital) in colleges since 2007.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no minute was taken of the meeting of 9 November 2017 between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the chair of the Scottish Policy Authority.

(S5W-13838)

Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers are routinely involved in a range of stakeholder meetings as part of normal Government business. Decisions about whether a record of a meeting is required are a matter of official judgement. On this occasion senior officials were clear that the actions were for the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority to take forward, so no record was taken. A full account was given to Parliament by me on 10 and 24 January, as well as in a follow up letter to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee from Paul Johnston, Director General, Education, Communities & Justice. Going forward, the Government is committed to ensuring that appropriate records are kept of meetings between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Authority.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13147 by Michael Matheson on 14 December 2017, in light of the cabinet secretary having had sight of the report on undercover policing since 2 November 2017, whether he has now fully considered the findings and, if (a) so, by what date HMICS will publish it on its website and (b) not, for what reason, and by what date he expects to do so.

(S5W-13843)

Michael Matheson: I am currently considering the HMICS report, A strategic review of undercover policing in Scotland. Arrangements will be made shortly to lay the report in the Scottish Parliament, following which HMICS will publish the full report on its website.

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the relationship between the Scottish Police Authority and ministers and officials, and whether it plans to review this relationship.

(S5W-13862)

Michael Matheson: There is regular and constructive dialogue between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Authority. The broad framework underpinning that relationship is set out in The Scottish Police Authority Governance and Accountability Framework, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, and which is kept under regular review.

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what (a) meetings and (a) phone calls there have been between ministers and members of the board of the Scottish Police Authority, and which of these were minuted.

(S5W-13864)

Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government proactively publishes details of ministerial activity, the details of which can be found on the Scottish Government website. Scottish Government policy on the recording of meetings is set out in guidance for civil servants about when a record should be kept of meetings involving Ministers.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow ) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13357 by Maree Todd on 9 January 2018, whether this work will be continued through the 2018 Year of Young People with the aim of building on previous programmes and the Race Action Plan; what additional plans it has for 2018, and what key areas of work it will aim to enhance beyond what it considers have been successes in previous years.

(S5W-13872)

Maree Todd: Community based events, alongside a programme of funded events which are taking place throughout the Year of Young People are inclusive to all and reflects our overarching Equality and Discrimination Policy aim for the Year – that young people experience greater equality and less discrimination.

The Scottish Government published our Race Equality Action Plan on 11 December which sets out our plans to advance race equality and tackle racism between now and 2020. This includes work through the Developing Young Workforce programme to tackle barriers for young people, including those with a minority ethnic background. It also includes work with Young Scot to develop a Strategic Participation Panel of minority ethnic young people - building on the Fairer Future project - to develop skills and understanding for young people to participate in local and national decision making processes.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government at what stage it is with the development of the National Framework for Families with Disabled Children and Young People, and by what date the framework will be published.

(S5W-13874)

Maree Todd: The Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families Framework will be published in Autumn 2018 following a consultation which will launch in March 2018.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the National Framework for Families with Disabled Children and Young People will open.

(S5W-13875)

Maree Todd: The Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families consultation will launch in March 2018.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with hard-to-reach parents in consulting on and developing the National Framework for Families with Disabled Children and Young People.

(S5W-13876)

Maree Todd: The Scottish Government’s Disabled Children and Young People’s Advisory Group, which comprises representatives from 3

rd sector disability organisations has two members who

represent groups specifically for parents of disabled children and young people. This Disabled Children and Young People’s Advisory Group have been meeting for over 3 years and have a keen interest in this work. Separately, the Scottish Government funds Contact (previously known as Contact a Family) to support the West Lothian Carers Forum who have been engaged in the framework. They have also produced materials to support other parents set up their own local groups. Engagement events will be co-hosted with 6 charities during the consultation who will invite families to give their views.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how the National Framework for Families with Disabled Children and Young People will support parents in (a) accessing services and (b) tackling loneliness and social isolation.

(S5W-13878)

Maree Todd: (a) The Framework was developed to address ambitious outcomes for the families of disabled children and young people, the second being: “Access to support and services will be easier and more efficient as families are more aware of what their entitlements are and what support is available to them.” The Framework will signpost to a variety of entitlements and support underpinned by a holistic definition of needs which goes beyond medical or financial support. The Framework seeks to improve access through empowering families with the knowledge of entitlements, where to find more local information, and how to seek advocacy when they feel that their rights are not being realised.

(b) Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone at any age or stage of their life and parents of children and young people with disabilities are at particular risk. We recognise the important role that many support services and organisations play in linking families of disabled children and providing valuable community networks. By improving awareness of, and access to, these services the Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families Framework will seek to reduce social isolation for disabled children, young people and their families.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how the National Framework for Families with Disabled Children and Young People will support the parents of very young disabled children.

(S5W-13883)

Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to equality for disabled children and young people in Scotland, and to ensuring that all children can achieve their potential. The framework is rights based and is from birth to adulthood and includes;

Information Provision and Signposting: So that children, young people and their parents will be more aware of services available nationally and locally, and will understand their rights and entitlements and how to realise them.

Accessibility: Families will better understand how to access the national levels of support available, with examples of best practice and improvement works to highlight the ambition that access to support and services will be easier and more efficient.

Transitions: Support and services for children and young people at key points of transition will be better aligned and more responsive to the needs of young people. Services available and transition processes will be more clearly understood by children, young people and their parents.

The final framework will be an interactive pdf that parents can access the information they require.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of children are identified as having a mental health condition at the initial comprehensive health assessment when they become looked after.

(S5W-13886)

Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of children are given a comprehensive health assessment within four weeks when taken under the care of a local authority, broken down by local authority.

(S5W-13887)

Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise its Guidance on Health Assessment for Looked After Children and Young People in Scotland.

(S5W-13888)

Maree Todd: We have no plans to revise the Guidance on Health Assessments for Looked After Children in Scotland.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it excluded care-experienced young people who were not looked-after for the full year from the Developing Young Workforce third annual report.

(S5W-13910)

Jamie Hepburn: Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) aims to create an excellent, work relevant education offer to all of our young people in Scotland, giving them the skills for the current and anticipated jobs market. This includes creating new vocational learning options; enabling young people to learn in a range of settings in their senior phase of school; embedding employer engagement in education; offering careers advice at an earlier point in school; and introducing new standards for careers guidance and work experience.

The DYW programme has eleven Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which underpin the programme in terms of areas where we are focusing on improvement – including increasing the number of looked after children in positive destinations by 4 percentage points per annum.

For the purposes of the programme, we have chosen this indicator as we are committed to improving opportunities and outcomes for young care leavers. When determining KPIs for the DYW programme, the decision was made to align with the headline figures from the Educational Outcomes for Looked After Children publication – those looked after for the full year. This allowed us to make use of an existing data source, with this figure representing the greatest proportion of looked after children in Scotland. We currently report outcomes for young people who have been looked after for part of the

year are currently reported within the aforementioned publication, with the latest figures published in June 2017.

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine who the recipients will be for each phase of the roll-out of the increase in childcare provision in Moray, and what decisions are taken by (a) local authorities and (b) ministers in this regard.

(S5W-13911)

Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland - Expansion Planning Guidance for Local Authorities in March 2017, which includes guidance on the phasing in of entitlement prior to 2020. The guidance states that:

“Local authorities have flexibility to determine the most appropriate way to phase entitlement in their local area as they build capacity. In considering phasing, authorities should evidence consideration of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to ensure that the families and communities who stand to benefit most from the expansion benefit first.”

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on developing a new generation of new towns, and how it will ensure that any proposed developments will have adequate amenities.

(S5W-13967)

Kevin Stewart: We support the contribution that our planned and under development new settlements in Scotland, including for example Shawfair and Tornagrain, will make to providing essential homes and services for their local areas.

New towns are not a new solution or the only solution. We expect local authorities to take a lead in saying where development should take place based upon local requirements and capacity for growth and for that to be reflected in local development plans.

Health and Social Care

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many patients are waiting to have a sacral nerve stimulation for urinary incontinence (UI) carried out in the current National Services Division service for UI in Scotland, broken down by NHS board.

(S5W-13651)

Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Sacral Nerve Stimulation Service for Urinary Dysfunction is provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C) Board for all of NHS Scotland as a national specialist service commissioned by National Services Division (NSD).

There are less than 5 patients who have been assessed and are waiting for a permanent implant.

There are 24 patients who are waiting for an outpatient appointment. Due to the potential of identifiable information, this information cannot be provided broken down by individual NHS Board.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposals by Public Health England to limit children’s snacks to 100 calories, whether it will consider a similar approach for Scotland in an effort to tackle childhood obesity.

(S5W-13677)

Aileen Campbell: Limiting the contribution of calories from sugary or fatty snacks is a positive step towards tackling obesity. However, many of the 100 calorie snacks that are commercially available contain as much as half the recommended daily sugar intake for a child. Food Standards Scotland’s Let’s Change our Future campaign, aimed at parents of primary school aged children, contains advice about dropping or swapping snacks. This campaign has been run twice now with an independent evaluation showing it succeeding in its objectives to make parents think differently about the long-term health consequences of their children’s snacking habits.

The Scottish Government has taken a broad range of measures to support the promotion of healthy food to children including Eat Better Feel Better, our social marketing campaign. Healthy snacking forms a central part our 2018 campaign which aims to encourage and empower families to make simple yet effective healthy food and snack choices.

We are presently consulting on a bold new diet and obesity strategy. This proposes a package of measures to improve the food environment and improve children’s diet including limiting the promotion of products high in fat, sugar and salt and tackling advertising. The consultation on A Healthier Future - Action and Ambitions on Diet, Activity and Healthy Weight' runs until 31 January 2018.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of the Carers Act finance group that the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 underestimates the (a) demand from carers for assessment and support

and (b) cost of implementing the duties it set out, including the costs of short breaks, replacement care and waiving charges for carers.

(S5W-13823)

Aileen Campbell: The final report of the Carers (Scotland) Act Finance Advisory Group sets out the estimated costs of implementing the Act and the potential risks of underestimating costs. This is dependent on actual demand which is unknown until after the Act commences on 1 April 2018.

Our draft budget for 2018-19 was informed by the work of the group and the Financial Memorandum. The draft budget includes an extra £66m to support additional expenditure by local government on social care including supporting the implementation of the carers act.

The Scottish Government has also, as agreed with the group, established a new finance group to monitor costs associated with the implementation of the Act.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the financial support accompanying the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 will (a) be an additional resource and (b) replace funding streams that are planned to end in April 2018.

(S5W-13825)

Aileen Campbell: Our draft budget for 2018-19 includes an additional £66m to support additional expenditure by local government on social care including supporting the implementation of the carers act. This new funding includes an amount for the intended outcomes under current Carer Information duties (£4.75m in 2017-18), which are superseded by the new duties for infomation and advice services under the Carers Act.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the £16 million estimated cost of waiving charges for carers under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 has not been funded.

(S5W-13826)

Aileen Campbell: Our draft budget for 2018-19 includes an additional £66m to support additional expenditure by local government on social care including supporting the implementation of the carers act.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage more NHS staff to get the flu vaccination.

(S5W-13832)

Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has taken steps to increase staff vaccination. The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote out to the NHS in September last year re-iterating the importance of the flu vaccine to staff, especially for those directly involved in patient care.

We have made clear to the NHS that free seasonal flu vaccination should be offered by NHS organisations, including primary care employers, to all employees directly involved in delivering care. We have instructed NHS Boards that every effort should be made to promote and offer the vaccine in a way that is accessible to all staff regardless of location and working pattern. NHS Boards across Scotland have worked hard to do this by taking innovative approaches to making vaccine available, promoting it to staff, and in providing leadership through senior clinicians and managers.

We have also supported NHS Boards with national resources, including a flu vaccine promotional resource toolkit for use by those with a role in supporting staff health and wellbeing. The toolkit focuses on maximising participation and helps those charged with promoting and delivering the flu vaccine to staff to plan their local flu campaign.

We will consider what more can be done to increase uptake among NHS staff for next flu season.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research of 18- to 75-year-olds by Drinkaware, which suggests that, in the last year, (a) 47% said that they had drunk alcohol to improve their mood and (b) 58% said that alcohol helped them to cope with pressures of day-to-day life.

(S5W-13867)

Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government acknowledges that motivations are an important aspect of drinking behaviour. The Drinkaware research report (https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/media/1852/drinking-to-cope-jan-2018.pdf) referred to in the question specifically focussed on adults in the UK who drink for coping reasons. The wider report (https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/research/our-research-and-evaluation-reports/drinkaware-monitor-2017/ ) found that the most common motivations overall for drinking alcohol are social with 84% of those of those who drink alcohol in the UK doing so at least some of the time for this reason.

The Scottish Government takes a whole population approach to reducing alcohol-related harm recognising that alcohol misuse can affect all sectors of the population. Our Alcohol Framework, published in 2009, contains over 40 measures and actions to tackle alcohol misuse. The implementation of minimum unit pricing on 1 May 2018 will address the cheap, high strength alcohol that does so much damage to our communities. We will be refreshing our Alcohol Framework this year, providing opportunity to further consider the additional actions and steps needed to tackle alcohol-related harm in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 – a 10 year vision (http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/03/1750/0), published in March 2017, recognises that mental health issues commonly co-exist with problem substance use (alcohol and drugs). The Strategy highlights that Integration Authorities will wish to ensure that alcohol, drugs, mental health services and social services work jointly and in a holistic way, so that people receive help with substance misuse and any underlying mental health issues. The Scottish Government provides NHS24 with £825,000 per annum to run Breathing Space (a confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland feeling low, anxious or depressed) and £200,000 per annum to run NHS Living Life (a phone and computer based psychological therapy service).

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds records regarding how many disabled children and young people there are and, if not, how it will ensure that there is an adequate provision of services.

(S5W-13877)

Maree Todd: The Scottish Health Survey provides annual estimates of the proportion of children with limiting long-term conditions. Figures at a local level are available from the Census every ten years.

Children’s services are planned and commissioned locally. Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 places a duty on each local authority and relevant health board to jointly prepare a children's services plan covering a 3 year period. A range of other relevant national and local bodies, including the third sector, are expected to be either consulted with, or obliged to participate, at various stages of the development of the plan.

Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13628 by Aileen Campbell on 10 January 2018, what action it takes to ensure that officials dealing with chronic pain issues take account of the public interest when making decisions; what training the officials receive in this regard, and what its position is on these decisions being subject to external supervision.

(S5W-13906)

Aileen Campbell: Ministerial decisions are informed by the expert advice of the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain, which includes a range of governmental and external advisors, including patient representatives.

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what new initiatives are being considered to support vulnerable children with mental health issues, in light of the reported decrease in the budget for child and adolescent mental health services.

(S5W-13937)

Maureen Watt: All children and young people have the right to be cared for, protected from harm, and to grow up in a safe environment in which their rights and needs are respected. We expect all children and young people to have their needs met by the mental health system, and the improvements we want to see made to the CAMHS system must take into account the needs of particularly vulnerable groups. The Scottish Government has invested £15 million to support better access to CAMHS and innovation, and we have indicated in our draft budget for 2018-19 an increase for Mental Health Innovation and Improvement of £17 million – this includes money for the transformation of CAMHS.

There is a focus on vulnerable children and young people in the Mental Health Strategy, with specific Actions supporting that focus, including:

Action 5 - Ensure the care pathway includes mental and emotional health and wellbeing, for young people on the edges of, and in, secure care.

Action 6 - Determine and implement the additional support needed for practitioners assessing and managing complex needs among children who present a high risk to themselves or others.

Action 7 - Support an increase in support for the mental health needs of young offenders, including on issues such as trauma and bereavement.

Action 20 - Scope the required level of highly specialist mental health inpatient services for young people, and act on its findings.

Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to adults without access to family carers who have (a) severe autism and (b) additional support requirements that prevent them from living or working independently.

(S5W-13943)

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people. We recognise that some autistic people are not able to live and work independently and that not everyone has access to family carers.

Local authorities have a duty to assess an individual’s social care needs and arrange appropriate social care support in a person-centred way. For those with autism and complex needs any provision of care and support should be person-centred and take account of the individual’s choices so they can meet their personal outcomes. For those individuals without capacity Local authorities would have a duty to support the individual to make any decisions. Where on-going support is required this would be reviewed as the individuals circumstances change. Local authorities can apply to appoint the Chief Social Work Officer as welfare guardian where necessary and a professional, such as a solicitor, as financial guardian.

The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of the Adults with Incapacity legislation. This will involve enhancing the current principles of the legislation to make them more robust and to ensure compliance with the UNCRPD. This means that every support should be given to disabled people to be able to exercise their legal capacity to make decisions about their care and support.

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place (a) nationally and (b) in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway area for improving the health care options available to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

(S5W-13966)

Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09030 on 10 May 2017. 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.