Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I am advised that Transport Scotland officials responded to the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership in June 2023 to confirm that the outcome of its review of SWestrans’s Beattock and Moffat transport appraisal report was that a robust business case had not been made for a Beattock station to be progressed further in the developme…”
“David Kirkwood: Given the 2028 opening of the River Tweed trail—the long-distance path that will start in Moffat, the jewel of the south, and run 113 miles to Berwick-upon-Tweed—and the probable extension of the Clydesdale way into Moffat a few years later, it is likely that more than 300,000 additional cyclists and walkers will visit the…”
“As the First Minister set out, the Scottish Government will invest in essential infrastructure across Scotland, including new train stations and ongoing electrification of our rail network.”
“First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week. There is no place for violence in the streets, homes, or communities of Scotland—whether it be race based, faith based or otherwise.”
“Scotland is a place that values hope, tolerance and solidarity—values that are shared both by people who were born here and by those who have privileged us by choosing to make Scotland their home. I hope that those values are shared by those who are fortunate enough to be in the chamber.”
“The Scottish Government had initially, on 15 June, lodged a legislative consent memorandum with the Parliament stating that we would not consent to the bill, due to the UK Government having not agreed to our proposals that it have appropriate regard to devolution.”
The complete record
Every one of 385 lines we hold for Tom Arthur, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 8.
“In its final theme, the commission rightly acknowledged the need to train the workforce to better meet the needs of children and young people. Our mental health and wellbeing workforce action plan sets out a range of actions to address key workforce issues, including training. In 2025-26, we provided NHS Education for Scotland with over £30 million to continue multidisciplinary education, training and support of workforce expansion, including for CAMHS. Despite the substantial progress that I have set out, we are not complacent. I acknowledge that we have much more to do. That is why we are working with partners to refresh our mental health and wellbeing delivery plan.”
“That principle of meaningful participation is central to the adoption of a children’s rights-based approach and is a guiding general principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Scotland is the first country in the United Kingdom, and the first nation in the world, to incorporate the UNCRC into domestic law, within the limits of devolved competence, providing legal protection for children’s rights. Further building on the legacy of the commission, we continue to ensure that the voices of children, young people and those with lived experience are central to policy development, for example through our child and family mental health joint strategic board and a youth reference group that supports our work on suicide prevention.”
“As I mentioned earlier, NHS mental health expenditure has risen substantially in recent years, from £1.3 billion in 2022-23 to £1.49 billion in 2023-24. Despite facing the most challenging financial situation since devolution, we have doubled the direct programme budget for mental health since 2020-21, allowing us to build on the improvements that we have made in early intervention and prevention, as well as clinical support. Again, let me be unequivocally clear: the mental health budget for 2025-26 remains at £270.5 million. Between the Scottish Government and NHS boards, we expect spending on mental health to be around £1.5 billion in 2025-26. The commission’s report emphasised the importance of young people being at the centre of decision making and being supported to understand their rights.”
“That is why, since 2020, we have provided local authorities with more than £80 million to fund community-based mental health support for children and young people, including £15 million a year in baseline funding from 2025- 26. Community-based supports are now available in every local authority area, and councils report that such support was accessed by nearly 80,000 people in 2024-25. Young people aged 16 and over can also access projects that are supported by our communities mental health and wellbeing fund for adults. We have invested £81 million in that fund since 2021, with a further £15 million committed for 2026-27 through our third sector fairer funding pilot. Our substantial investment in community-based support brings me to the commission’s next theme: finance, policy and rights.”
“CAMHS staffing levels have increased by 54.3 per cent in the past decade under this Government. We have also exceeded our commitment to provide funding for 320 additional staff in CAMHS by 2026, increasing case capacity by more than 10,000. The commission’s second theme—education— called for a whole-school approach. We have ensured access to counselling services in secondary schools across the country, and continue to support local authorities with £16 million every year. We have also published a whole-school approach framework to assist in supporting children and young people’s mental health in schools. The third theme called for more community- based approaches to support mental health. We know that not all children and young people who need support will require a specialist service such as CAMHS.”
“In line with the commission’s recommendations, the service specification states that CAMHS must work in partnership with children, young people and their families in all aspects of service design and delivery, including transition planning. We have also seen considerable improvements in CAMHS waiting times. The 18-week standard has now been met for the third quarter in a row, with 91.8 per cent of children and young people starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral. Local CAMHS teams continue to respond well to demand, with one in two children and young people who are referred to CAMHS starting treatment within five weeks, compared with 12 weeks in the period before the pandemic. That is the result of sustained investment by the Scottish Government and, even more importantly, the continued hard work of our amazing CAMHS workforce.”
“The recommendations directly influenced the development of the service specification for national child and adolescent mental health services, which was published in 2020 and outlined the standard of support that young people and their families are entitled to expect from the national health service. Key principles of the specification include equity of access and a needs-led and rights-based approach that is aligned with the getting it right for every child policy. In recent years, we have invested significantly in CAMHS improvements and continue to work with health boards to closely monitor implementation of the specification.”
“The time between then and now spans two parliamentary terms. In that time, we have had a global pandemic; national health service spend on mental health has increased dramatically; and we have published two national strategic mental health documents—I could go on. The latest report highlights the difficulty of reporting progress against previous recommendations that have themselves resulted in huge change. That is why I want to focus my statement on the commission’s lasting legacy. It is only right that we reflect on its achievements, and I would like to do so with reference to each of the commission’s five key themes. The first theme focused on services.”
“The commission was a great example of young people directly driving meaningful improvements on the issues that matter to them. On that note, I give my heartfelt thanks to the many young people who shared their personal experiences. They demonstrated tenacity, candour and passion to improve the services that they access. Their work, and that of the many young people who followed them in sharing their views and experiences, continues to influence policy six years after the report was published. Therefore, I hope that the members of the commission are very proud of what they achieved. We accepted the vast majority of the 103 recommendations that were made by the commission. However, as the new progress report acknowledges, the landscape has changed significantly over the past six years.”
“The commission’s primary theme was that support should be available across the whole system at all levels of need, which is a principle that is at the core of our current mental health and wellbeing strategy. The strategy sets out our shared vision of a Scotland that is free from stigma and inequality, where everyone, including children and young people, fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible. I believe that that reflects the youth commission’s ambition for children and young people’s mental health. That includes the strategies that focus on the three Ps—promote, prevent and provide. It is clear that the commission was a catalyst for so much of the change that we have seen across the system in the intervening years. I will give some examples shortly.”
“My statement concerns the lasting legacy of the youth commission on mental health services, which reported in 2019. I begin by thanking Young Scot, Scottish Action for Mental Health and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland for their recent report detailing the progress against the commission’s recommendations. The opportunity to give my statement today is therefore very timely. The youth commission’s work remains at the heart of the Government’s approach to children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The commission was part of a sea change in how we think about support for children and young people’s mental health.”
“Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“The population health framework, along with the reforms that are outlined in the service renewal framework, set out a collective long-term approach to reform and renewal of health and social care in Scotland. I again thank Brian Whittle for bringing this important debate to the chamber and for the tenor in which he did so. I thank other members for their contributions. Meeting closed at 17:56. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“It looks at tackling obesity, including through legislation to restrict promotions of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt, and the development of new digital type 2 diabetes remission programmes. The framework also includes work to reduce harms from smoking and vaping, such as work with the UK Government on the bill to increase the age of sale for tobacco products, and work to introduce an advertising ban for vapes and nicotine products. In concluding, I will touch briefly on the service renewal framework, which sets out how we will strengthen integration across health and social care, delivering services that are preventative, person-focused and built on collaboration.”
“It looks to ensure that we pursue and implement equitable access to health and care services. The evidence is clear that our health is, as I have touched on, closely linked to the circumstances and environments in which we are born, grow up, live, work and age—the building blocks of health. As I have said previously, that needs a cross-Government and cross-sectoral focus. We know that investing in prevention is one of the most cost-effective interventions that the NHS and wider systems can make in improving population health and reducing inequalities. The population health framework sets out 30 actions, including the promotion of healthy eating, in line with a new two-year implementation plan to improve the food environment, diet and healthy weight.”
“The plan was followed by two key frameworks for the future not only of our health and social care services but of the health of the Scottish population. Our population health framework, which was co-produced with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is firmly focused on meeting the challenges that the Scottish Fiscal Commission has outlined. That framework, which was published in June, sets out a cross- Government and cross-sector approach to improving population health over the coming decades, with a firm focus on prevention. It aims to improve life expectancy while reducing the life expectancy gap between the 20 per cent most deprived areas and the national average by addressing the key social, economic and environmental drivers of health and economic inequality.”
“She also touched on the importance of considering not just life expectancy but healthy life expectancy. She asked me to mention some of the work that the Government is undertaking in that regard. This year, the Government published and began to enact a series of short-term, medium-term and longer-term actions to realise our vision of a Scotland where people can live healthier, longer lives. Those actions are outlined in three published plans. The NHS Scotland operational improvement plan, which was published in March sets out a number of actions to be taken across the NHS to improve our services. It is a clear plan to improve services and is supported by £200 million of targeted investment.”
“We have seen that trend in the delivery of healthcare for many years now, owing to the increasing sophistication, complexity and specialisation of services. Delivery models that might have been sustainable with previous iterations of technology have to change and adapt, but, to balance that, I recognise that there is the opportunity for greater localisation of services and a different way of delivering them. Of course, we live in a world now where procedures that would have meant in-patient stays in previous decades can be undertaken as a day patient or as an out-patient. That reflects Emma Harper’s point about the progress that can be made through the use of technology and innovation. Indeed, Carol Mochan touched on many of those broad aspects in her speech.”
“For example, shopping locally often leads to the procurement of good-quality, nutritious produce, but it also supports our local economies, sustaining the presence of local businesses and promoting active travel. Emma Harper also touched on 20-minute neighbourhoods and no-go living. As a former planning minister, I am reminded of the fact that when the first legislation to create what became the modern planning system was introduced nearly a century ago, it came from the public health movement and was a response to the dire housing conditions that were once present. That is worth bearing in mind. Davy Russell addressed one of the tensions that will always be present in our debates on health, which is the tension between local services and centralised centres of excellence.”
“If we have the political will, change can be made. Tom Arthur: Mr Whittle highlights an important point. As he will appreciate, in relation to the differences that we see in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between different countries, a country’s public health policy has an impact. However, there are wider cultural, historical and economic factors at play as well. That does not, in any way, diminish the importance of his point. Emma Harper gave an excellent speech. She touched on the wide range of factors that come into play in shaping our public health and our population health as a whole. She touched on how our economic model interacts with public health.”
“Tom Arthur: Before I take Mr Whittle’s intervention, I note that it is appropriate that we remind ourselves that Nye Bevan was not just the secretary of state for health but was the secretary of state for health and housing. When we think about public health and health more broadly, and the interaction with other portfolios, it is extremely important that we consider that as a cross- Government endeavour. Brian Whittle: Some of my optimism comes from changes that have been made in other countries. We are not other countries; we are Scotland. However, where there is political will, there is a way. I look at countries such as Japan, which made a political decision to have a nutritionist in every school. Children there must eat a specific healthy diet. Japan, which is the third-largest economy in the world, has an obesity rate of 4 per cent.”
“As it sets out very clearly, there will be significant challenges ahead if nothing changes. The report underscores the importance of our not only working collectively but recognising the multifaceted nature of public health. In his speech, Mr Whittle spoke about the implications of public health for the economy. I suggest that it is also important to recognise the impact on public health of the way in which our economy operates. An example is the consumption of products that are harmful to health. There are those who will stand to gain from that through profits and trade, while the externalities that ensue in the form of public health challenges fall to the state. It is important to consider that interaction when considering public health. Brian Whittle: Will the minister take an intervention?”
“However, we have a collective responsibility not just to this generation but to the generations to come. That philosophy and wisdom were very much present in Mr Whittle’s speech. I also note Mr Whittle’s point about the need for small changes and the importance of recognising that, although significant shifts that take place overnight can perhaps present an insuperable challenge, small changes do make a difference, Indeed, consistency compounds: whether one works in finance or is training in athletics, one has to recognise that it is about consistency and taking small steps in the right direction. I think that, in Scotland, we are collectively taking steps in the right direction. I welcome the SFC’s report, which makes an important contribution to our debate.”
“I thank Brian Whittle not only for bringing the motion to the chamber, but for the considered and thoughtful way in which he presented his remarks and set out his views. There is much that we can collectively learn from the approach that he has taken, and from recognising some of the collective challenges that we share, not least of which is the proclivity of our political discourse to focus on the short term at the expense of the medium term and the long term, and the risk that such short-term thinking can pose. That focus can be particularly present in our discourse on health. Our debates are regularly consumed by immediate and pressing demands— for very understandable reasons, because those are what our constituents routinely come to our surgeries to seek our support and assistance on.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:35. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“I assure members that the Scottish Government is working closely with national health service boards and local authorities to improve services and support for neurodivergent people, and we have set up a new children and young persons neurodevelopmental task force to drive forward those improvements, as well as providing an additional £500,000 this year to enhance the support available to children and families. The Scottish Government remains committed to preventing FASD, and to supporting those with FASD to live their best lives. We will continue to work across Government and with partners to increase awareness of FASD, enhance prevention measures, and support the delivery of those measures to those who are affected by FASD. I again thank members for their contributions, and Rona Mackay for securing the debate.”
“The team provides consultation and training to professionals, including tiered training programmes that give them the tools that they need to recognise, support and diagnose people who are affected by FASD. We are aware of significant increases in the number of neurodivergent people, including those with FASD, seeking a diagnosis and requiring support. Although that creates challenges for a range of services, we recognise how important a diagnosis and support can be to someone’s wellbeing.”
“We know how important it is to provide education and training that are specific to FASD, as well as support to families and individuals with FASD. Over the past four years, we have provided almost £2 million, including £620,000 this year, to improve understanding of and support for FASD. We fund the FASD hub through Adoption UK to support people affected by FASD as well as their families. The hub provides peer support, training and advice, including an advice line that is open to all parents and carers in Scotland who are parenting a child or young person with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure and one-to-one support. We also fund the fetal alcohol advisory support and training—or FAAST—team at the University of Edinburgh.”
“Additionally, our recently published population health framework sets out plans for tackling the root causes of poor health and reducing the life expectancy gap between the poorest and most affluent areas across Scotland, including initial action to reduce health-harming risks during pre- conception and in pregnancy. Related to that, Scotland’s “Women’s Health Plan”, which was published in August 2021, sets out actions that aim to address women’s health inequalities by raising awareness of women’s health, improving access to healthcare for women across their lives, and reducing inequalities in health outcomes for women and girls. We are now working on the next phase of the plan, which is expected to be published in January next year.”
“That message is also featured in the “Ready, Steady, Baby!” guidance and on NHS Inform, where there is information on why women should avoid alcohol when they are pregnant or are trying to conceive. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of pre-conception care to aid pregnancy planning and preparation, which can significantly reduce avoidable harm, including from alcohol. I am pleased to say that we are taking action through delivery partners, communities and families to enable all children to develop to their full potential, including before and during pregnancy. That work is part of our commitment to acting on early child development through our transformational change programme.”
“We are working to ensure that our policy on FASD is joined up across various areas of Government, including alcohol education and maternal and pre-conception health, to name but a few. We are taking forward a number of important pieces of work that are relevant to future prevention and support for people with FASD in Scotland. As some members will be aware, we published in 2018 an alcohol framework that set out a commitment to increasing awareness of FASD and supporting improved diagnosis. We are currently developing a refreshed alcohol and drugs strategic plan that responds to the alcohol and drugs crisis, and we aim to publish that new strategic plan in early 2026, ahead of the conclusion of the national mission on drugs. The clear message from our chief medical officer on alcohol during pregnancy remains “No alcohol, no risk”.”
“I thank my colleague Rona Mackay for securing this important debate, and my colleagues Jackie Dunbar, Annie Wells and Carol Mochan for their important contributions. I assure everyone that the Scottish Government is committed to preventing the harm caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and to supporting those impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. As has been outlined over the course of the debate, FASD is a lifelong neurodivergent condition that can affect every area of a person’s life. That is why the Scottish Government is determined to ensure that people with FASD have the opportunity to live life on their own terms, properly supported when they need to be.”
“Since November 2024, the distress brief intervention programme has been live in all 31 health and social care partnership areas across Scotland for those aged 16 and over. We also have three national referral pathways to DBI, via NHS 24 and call handling centres operated by both the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland. Those provide additional options for key services to refer people for DBI support. Emma Roddick: I would be interested to know what data has been collected on re-presentation rates for individuals who have received DBI support, and how it compares with previous re- presentation rates for people in distress. Tom Arthur: I will be happy to write to the member to provide that specific information. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general questions. First Minister’s Question Time 12:00 Innovation 1.”
“Without repeating the usual excuses, what does he say to those who are waiting for care support that they have been assessed as needing but have been left waiting to receive it? Tom Arthur: I make it clear that I do not want to see anyone waiting unduly for care that they have been assessed as requiring. We are working constructively and collaboratively with our partners across local government. That work is, intentionally, being led by the cabinet secretary, with support from me, and we will continue to do that work. We have put significant additional investment of £21.7 billion into health and social care this year, which includes £2.2 billion for social care. Those figures exceeded our original commitment, and we will continue engaging constructively with our partners to drive forward improvements.”
“Local councils assess the need for, and deliver, free personal care, but it was legislated for by this Parliament. The Scottish National Party’s website hails the policy as one of the landmark achievements of devolution, but too many old and vulnerable people across my Highlands and Islands region are being left waiting for months, if not years, for the support that they have been assessed as needing. Some are left languishing in already-crowded hospitals, because there is no care support available to get them home or no place available in one of our pressured care homes. Does the minister accept the seriousness of the situation across the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland?”
“The information that the member has requested for 2024-25 has not yet been published. However, the data that focuses on the uptake of free personal nursing care in previous years is available on the Scottish Government website, which provides published statistics. The 2024-25 data has a release date of November 2025. The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of care can be high for people who are self- funding their residential care. That is why we have increased the rates paid for free personal and nursing care by 29.5 per cent since April 2020, providing an additional investment of £40 million over the past three years. Jamie Halcro Johnston: I thank the minister for his answer, but I would welcome a little more detail in future.”
“The risks of underprescribing need to be carefully balanced against the potential risks of inappropriate prescribing. As I hope that the member appreciates, decisions on prescribing should be led by the appropriate clinicians. We are aware that different health boards have adopted varying approaches to private diagnosis or diagnosis from outside Scotland. We are aware that NHS Lothian, for example, has issued guidance to support clinicians. My officials will draw on the experience of health boards and explore a sustainable solution that effectively addresses the balance of risks. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I apologise again to members whom I was not able to call for supplementaries. That concludes portfolio question time. Scotland’s Finances”
“Marie McNair: I have been contacted by a constituent who received a psychiatric assessment and an ADHD diagnosis when residing in England and who was advised that his general practitioner was willing to prescribe Ritalin. However, he has been refused such a prescription in Scotland, apparently because of the need for a psychiatric assessment here. My constituent is therefore without the medication that he desperately needs, despite having a diagnosis and a GP who is willing to prescribe Ritalin. Will the minister intervene in this case and help to secure the support that my constituent needs? The Deputy Presiding Officer: As briefly as possible, minister. Tom Arthur: I acknowledge that the increase in adults undertaking neurodevelopmental assessment across Scotland is creating challenges for services.”
“First, I clarify that not all adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder require medication and that a range of non- pharmacological supports should be made available following diagnosis. When medication is required, it can be prescribed by specialist services following a formal diagnosis of ADHD. My officials have liaised with national health service boards across Scotland to understand what provision they have in place to deliver adult neurodevelopmental assessments, and we are exploring how to address current issues that are contributing to long waiting times for assessment. In addition, we fund the national autism implementation team, which is supporting NHS boards to develop, enhance and redesign existing local adult neurodevelopmental services.”
“We have been through a period of significant inflation, and policy decisions have had a significant impact, not least the UK Government’s decision on national insurance. We are committed to working constructively with our partners at the local level to ensure that we provide support for our social care sector, and we will continue to do so. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that the initial question was about residential social care in the west of”
“Tom Arthur: The member’s final point relates to delayed discharges. The cabinet secretary and I engage closely with integration joint boards, health boards and wider partners to work to drive improvement. Although we have a challenge nationally, we see examples of excellent practice across the country. Part of the challenge is to ensure that parts of the country where performance is not where it should be can learn from other parts of the country. The member will appreciate that many of the challenges that are faced by our social care sector—and particularly by residential care homes—are the result of macroeconomic factors that are outwith the immediate control of the Scottish Government.”
“That delivers on our commitment to increase social care spending by 25 per cent during this parliamentary session—two years ahead of schedule. Jamie Greene: I thank the minister for that answer, as unsurprising as it is. If social care spending is at record levels, why are care homes in Greenock and Paisley closing down? Why are services on Arran reducing capacity? Why are the majority of care homes that are closing citing financial viability as the primary reason for their closure? We have lost more than 250 care homes, or more than 2,000 beds, during the past decade. As the minister knows, Donald Macaskill has said that the whole of Scotland’s social care sector is in crisis. I have constituents who are languishing in hospital when they should be in a care home. What will the Scottish Government do about that?”
“We do not want to see the closure of good-quality care homes, and we understand the concern that the issue causes residents and families. Regrettably, care homes can close for various reasons. It is outwith the remit of the Scottish Government to intervene. Although we have overall responsibility for social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care support at a local level lies with local authorities, national health service boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Funding for health and social care is at a record level. Our 2025-26 budget will invest £21.7 billion into the sector, including almost £2.2 billion of investment for social care and integration.”
“I repeat the point that I made in my original answer and in response to questions in Parliament in June: we are working with health boards and engaging with local authorities to understand the picture more clearly. I am conscious of the member’s interest. As part of the pre-agreed summit between parties, we will have the opportunity for dialogue, and I am sure that we will be able to explore the area further. The Deputy Presiding Officer: A couple of members wish to ask supplementary questions. I will try to get them both in, but they will need to be brief.”
“Children are going to wait until they are adults to be assessed. When will the Government introduce a comprehensive system of waiting time data and pathways for assessment? Tom Arthur: The member will be aware that considerable work has already been undertaken on the development of pathways, both for children and young people and for adults. On the point about data, as I stated in my original answer—and as I referred to in the statement that I gave to Parliament towards the end of June—we understand the issue and the interest in Parliament on the length of waiting lists and the median waits. That information is held by health boards.”
“The Scottish Government does not hold data relating to the number of children waiting for an ADHD assessment or to the length of waits. Health boards hold their own data on that. As I have previously acknowledged, work is needed to improve the quality of data that is available on neurodevelopmental support and services. We are working with health boards and local authorities to better understand what is available and how it can be used to support improvements for children and families. Daniel Johnson: I remind members of my diagnosis. The minister’s answer speaks for itself. The reality is that there is a crisis in neurodiversity assessment and that the Government does not hold that data. How does it propose to fix the problem when it does not know the scale of the problem or even the length of waits?”
“We have worked constructively, and I believe that the LCM is a positive step forward on the road to the full devolution of employment law to the Parliament in due course. Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill”
“It also underscores why the Government thinks that we should be looking to devolve employment powers to the Parliament in full, which would enable us to guarantee and protect those rights for all time, as long as there is majority support for that in the Parliament. We would have liked the UK Government to go further on some measures, such as sick pay. It would also have been beneficial if we did not require the consent of the secretary of state on provisions relating to the social care negotiating body. Again, that underscores the importance of having employment law devolved to the Parliament. As I said at the outset, we did not approach this with the intent of making the perfect the enemy of the good.”
“Fair work is not only good for workers and not only a social and moral imperative; it is good for the economy. Ultimately, workers are also consumers, and the more security and fulfilment that they have in their work and the more disposable pay that they have, the better it is for businesses and for workers’ dignity. It is also good commercially for businesses, because a workforce that is invested and that feels secure, fulfilled and respected will be more productive and will make more of a contribution to their employers. Those matters are of fundamental importance to the wider Scottish economy, and they underscore the importance of our constructive and collaborative approach with the UK Government in taking forward the LCM.”
“Although we are now in a position of alignment in wanting to advance workers’ rights, we cannot take that for granted. British politics has always had one certainty, which is that Labour Governments have been followed by Governments of a different political hue. That has previously been the Conservatives, but it might not be the Conservatives next time; it may well be a party that is not aligned to the values that command majority support in this place with regard to workers’ rights. That is why it is of paramount importance that we secure the devolution of employment rights to this Parliament, not only so that we can protect and embed those rights and guarantee them so long as there is a majority for them in this Parliament, but so that we can work constructively and proportionately with others to enhance those rights.”