Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 June 2015
24 Jun 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Mental Health (Scotland) Bill
I understand and fully accept the intent, but we would really like to know when the process will end, rather than that it has begun.
There are unresolved issues around the use of psychoactive substances. The minister has agreed to consider them during the promised review, which is welcome.
This amending bill, which intends to clarify and improve the implementation of the 2003 act in the interests of the patients who are affected by it, is timely and welcome, but I expect that more changes will be required after further review has taken place. Significant advances have already been made in helping patients with mental health problems, but that is still work in progress, and continuing scrutiny of current legislation must be on-going, with an open mind regarding further changes as and when required.
I have confined my remarks to some of the proposals in part 1 and have chosen not to elaborate on parts 2 and 3, on criminal cases and victims’ rights. I merely add that the legislative changes proposed in parts 2 and 3 are welcome, and we are supportive of them. All in all we are comfortable with the amending bill, which we will support at decision time this evening.
18:08In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13599, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill. I ask members who are leaving ...
The Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
The Mental Health (Scotland) Bill’s overarching objective is to help people with a mental disorder to access effective treatment quickly and easily. It does ...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the final stage of the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill. I thank the members who moved amendments this afternoon and who put all that work into consid...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Jenny Marra
Lab
I would like to make progress first, thank you. A major review would have explored whether learning disability and autism should be considered mental disord...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Ms Marra suggests that we have rejected the approach that will see a review of the inclusion of learning disability and autism within the scope of the 2003 a...
Jenny Marra
Lab
I thank the minister for that assurance but it is my understanding that Jackie Baillie’s amendment was rejected by the Government. Will the minister clarify ...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
The debate was around the specifics of the amendment. We had the detailed debate. I am happy to go over it again in closing. Rejecting the amendment was not ...
Jenny Marra
Lab
When the minister sums up, I hope that he might put a timeframe on that review and make a commitment to that. We welcome many of the well-thought-out steps ...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I add my thanks to the Health and Sport Committee clerks, the bill team, and the many witnesses and stakeholders who have been so helpful throughout the parl...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I understand where Nanette Milne is coming from and I understand the frustrations that exist out there—that is one of the reasons why we have committed to un...
Nanette Milne
Con
I understand and fully accept the intent, but we would really like to know when the process will end, rather than that it has begun. There are unresolved is...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill as amended at stage 2 and stage 3, which I very much hope and believe will be passed this evening. The bill is sp...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
This bill is welcome and the changes that it makes to the law will make a positive difference to the lives of individuals. However, it is clear that much mor...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to see the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill at this final stage. I am hopeful about the positive changes that the bill will make to the Mental Heal...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I praise the member for his consistency in raising that issue. I will not rehearse again the fact that there is already equality in law. Jim Hume suggests th...
Jim Hume
LD
We looked into that but realised that the structure of the bill was such that we could not introduce an amendment seeking parity of status between mental hea...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
The bill is a very important piece of legislation, but it is close to me personally for a number of reasons. I have experience of close family members who ha...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the bill. As ever at stage 3, we have to decide whether the glass is half empty or half full. On one hand, we certainly welcome the fact that...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Does Malcolm Chisholm agree that that speaks to my collaborative and open approach at stage 2?
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
I think that we were collaborative in 2003, as well. Clearly, the bill is an amending bill, so in due course there might well be a need for a wider review, ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I, too, commend the members of the Health and Sport Committee for their sterling work on the bill, and give credit for all the progress that is contained in ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The bill is modest but, as Mark McDonald and Jenny Marra said, it is important. It is based on the McManus report but, as Malcolm Chisholm reminded us, there...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I thank members for their speeches. I will try and cover as much ground as I can. Although the bill has a relatively narrow focus, many of its provisions wi...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I gave the example that Highland Council, which should, under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, provide a report by a mental health officer in ...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
It is important to clarify that it is £100 million, not £150 million, although that is still a substantial sum of money, as I am sure Mary Scanlon agrees. Th...