Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 September 2013
24 Sep 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
New Learning Disabilities Strategy
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 integration and inclusion. Clearly, however, the views of people with learning disabilities have to be central, and I would not disagree with what Bob Doris says about that, in general terms. I had a bit more to say on that subject, but I had better move on as we do not have unlimited time.
I want to say a bit about independent living and about advocacy in particular, because that is central to independent living. I have just lodged a motion on the subject, which I hope everybody will sign, and I notice that Jim Eadie is hosting a meeting on Thursday lunchtime with the Independent Advocacy Alliance Scotland, to which I hope members will go.
Members will be aware of the publication of the report by the Independent Advocacy Alliance Scotland—if they are not aware of it, they will be once they have signed my motion. Under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act 2003, people with learning disabilities and people with a mental illness have a right to independent advocacy. It plays a key role in enabling the most vulnerable members of society to lead fuller and more independent lives. Within the context of this debate, independent advocacy is a crucial element of safeguarding and progressing civil and human rights, and of implementing the social justice agenda. It supports person-centred services, helps to avoid or resolve crisis situations and is effective in helping to move people’s lives forward. Commissioners must be open to partnership working and to working together to properly assess the number of residents who are eligible for that kind of support.
As is pointed out in “The keys to life”, health and social care partnerships must
“gather robust information on unmet eligible need”
and then ensure that tailored services are provided to best address individual need. Independent advocacy can then act as a route for those who have difficulties in communicating those needs to access the services that can create for them a more independent future.
“Having your say?” was a 2006 report that was produced by the advocacy sub-group of the national implementation group for “The same as you?” The report heavily recommended that the Scottish Government continue to encourage the development of local independent advocacy services, as a matter of priority. I have some concern that recommendation 32 talks about that being taken forward “by 2018”. There is a statutory obligation under mental health legislation, which I hope will ensure that everyone who has a learning disability and who wants and requires advocacy services will be able to access those services as soon as possible.
15:16
I want to say a bit about independent living and about advocacy in particular, because that is central to independent living. I have just lodged a motion on the subject, which I hope everybody will sign, and I notice that Jim Eadie is hosting a meeting on Thursday lunchtime with the Independent Advocacy Alliance Scotland, to which I hope members will go.
Members will be aware of the publication of the report by the Independent Advocacy Alliance Scotland—if they are not aware of it, they will be once they have signed my motion. Under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act 2003, people with learning disabilities and people with a mental illness have a right to independent advocacy. It plays a key role in enabling the most vulnerable members of society to lead fuller and more independent lives. Within the context of this debate, independent advocacy is a crucial element of safeguarding and progressing civil and human rights, and of implementing the social justice agenda. It supports person-centred services, helps to avoid or resolve crisis situations and is effective in helping to move people’s lives forward. Commissioners must be open to partnership working and to working together to properly assess the number of residents who are eligible for that kind of support.
As is pointed out in “The keys to life”, health and social care partnerships must
“gather robust information on unmet eligible need”
and then ensure that tailored services are provided to best address individual need. Independent advocacy can then act as a route for those who have difficulties in communicating those needs to access the services that can create for them a more independent future.
“Having your say?” was a 2006 report that was produced by the advocacy sub-group of the national implementation group for “The same as you?” The report heavily recommended that the Scottish Government continue to encourage the development of local independent advocacy services, as a matter of priority. I have some concern that recommendation 32 talks about that being taken forward “by 2018”. There is a statutory obligation under mental health legislation, which I hope will ensure that everyone who has a learning disability and who wants and requires advocacy services will be able to access those services as soon as possible.
15:16
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 ...