Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 September 2013
24 Sep 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
New Learning Disabilities Strategy
I will follow the example of Jim Eadie and my colleague Malcolm Chisholm, and mention a forthcoming event. At lunch time on Wednesday 9 October I will host a presentation on behalf of Lorna Walker, who has worked all her life with people who have learning difficulties. She has produced an online support manual on dealing with those with additional support needs, which is being used by half of the councils throughout Scotland, in addition to gaining interest from around the world. Unfortunately, there has been no interest so far from the Government, and I urge the minister to come along to the event if he can.
I support the strategy and the Labour amendment.
15:58
I support the strategy and the Labour amendment.
15:58
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-07787, in the name of Michael Matheson, on the new learning disabilities strategy, “The keys to life”.I p...
The Minister for Public Health (Michael Matheson)
SNP
The new learning disabilities strategy, “The keys to life: Improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities”, was published in June of this ye...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
The minister will be aware that the Education and Culture Committee has undertaken an inquiry into looked-after children and some of the outcomes that follow...
Michael Matheson
SNP
The member has raised a very important point. I am aware of those concerns.I was going to touch on the transition between services, particularly for those wh...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour is committed to improving the quality of life for people with learning difficulties, and we welcome the debate and the opportunity to examine...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I am very much in tune with what the member says about the needs of people who have learning disabilities. Does he also agree that those who have learning di...
Neil Bibby
Lab
As I have been saying and will go on to say, people with learning disabilities should be involved and consulted on the services that they need. That is cruci...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
We welcome the debate on the new learning disabilities strategy. We agree with and will be supporting the Government motion. I quote part of it:“Scotland can...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
We come to the open debate. We have a bit of time in hand, therefore I can give all members up to seven minutes. 15:01
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I welcome the publication of “The keys to life”, which is the second 10-year strategy for tackling learning disabilities and en...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Although I can be generous with seven-minute speeches, if members go much over that, I am afraid that the time will have to drop back down later in the debat...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
In welcoming the comprehensive learning disabilities strategy, we should also remember, as Mary Scanlon did, that great policy document from the Parliament’s...
Bob Doris
SNP
I was going to intervene earlier, but I wanted to let Mr Chisholm finish telling his constituent’s story.I agree with Mr Chisholm about the co-production com...
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
I do not want to get into that controversy; I was just giving the views of my constituent. I think that the general thrust of policy has been towards more in...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to speak in the debate. The subject of learning disability is of considerable personal interest to me because I have a younger sister with Dow...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I very much welcome the transitions to employment project. There is no difference between us on that front. It will ensure that more people have positive out...
Joan McAlpine
SNP
Well, £250 million is a significant sum of money. It is important that the cabinet secretary has listened to what Enable Scotland and the Scottish Consortium...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you have run out of time.
Joan McAlpine
SNP
I want to draw attention to the GP contract. Some people who have a learning disability have communication difficulties, so it is important that they get lon...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I thank everyone who has been involved in developing the new learning disability strategy, “The keys to life”. In particular, I thank citizens of Scotland wh...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This Parliament and this country have a strong track record of promoting social inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity. The European convention on ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Dennis Robertson, to be followed by Jim Eadie.15:37
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. When you extended the time for speeches to seven minutes, I put my hand in my pocket and took out my throat lozenges. I certain...
Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in this debate and to follow a number of very impressive contributions on the quality of life of people with l...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
It does not quite seem that 13 years have passed since the last time we discussed a strategy to support people with learning disabilities. I admit that that ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The member should be closing now.
Ken Macintosh
Lab
I will follow the example of Jim Eadie and my colleague Malcolm Chisholm, and mention a forthcoming event. At lunch time on Wednesday 9 October I will host a...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the debate and the strategy, “The keys to life”, which builds on the strategy, “The same as you?”, which was published in 2000. I agree with Mary S...
Dennis Robertson
SNP
Mr Adam mentioned recommendation 3 and his support for it. We were talking about enabling, empowering and giving a voice to people with learning disabilities...
George Adam
SNP
I would not like to answer that myself, but that is what I was trying to say. We need to ensure that we speak in a language and package information in a way ...