Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 April 2025
01 Apr 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16644, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill. The debate will be concluded without any question being put, and I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes its disappointment at reports that the promised Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill was not announced in the most recent Programme for Government; believes that people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence in Lothian and across Scotland are structurally excluded and disadvantaged, and that it is harder for them to achieve their potential than people who are neurotypical; considers that the measures included in the draft Bill, such as creating and upholding statutory rights, improving access to mental health services and tailoring education provision, would break down some of the barriers faced by people with learning disabilities, autism or neurodivergence, given that a reported 37% of schoolchildren reportedly have additional support needs but that only 6% of teachers are trained to provide these, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to provide clarity on its commitment to legislating in this area.
17:02References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16644, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodi...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I thank those members who signed my motion to enable the debate to happen. It is a very important debate, because it is difficult to overstate the level of f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Before we move to the open debate, I advise members that the debate is heavily oversubscribed, which will come as a surprise to nobody. I will therefore requ...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate my colleague Daniel Johnson on securing this members’ business debate, and I thank him for his continued openness on this issue. I, too, feel ...
Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
I thank Daniel Johnson for bringing the debate to the chamber. Even during my campaign to be elected back in 2016, it was clear that more support was needed...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I commend my colleague Daniel Johnson for securing this members’ business debate, and I thank him and Karen Adam for their openness in talking about their ne...
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, thank Daniel Johnson for securing the debate, which enables us to discuss the implications of not introducing a learning disability, autism and neuro...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Daniel Johnson for bringing the debate to the chamber and for sharing his personal experience, because that really does matter. I also thank organisa...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
My friend Pam Duncan-Glancy is making a very compelling case. Does she agree that, in addition to the learning disability health checks, issues such as the “...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I thank the member for that intervention, and I whole-heartedly agree that people with learning disabilities and others will absolutely feel entirely failed....
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
Michael has spent more than 15 years in hospital. He is autistic with a severe learning disability. He finds routine comforting, and unexpected changes cause...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I, too, thank Daniel Johnson for bringing this very important issue to the chamber. I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives on this sub...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Before I call the next speaker in the open debate, I am minded, given the number of colleagues who still wish to participate, to accept a motion without noti...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Daniel Johnson for bringing this important debate to the chamber. In working with other members across the parties, he has been a real champion in th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Stephanie Callaghan, who joins us remotely. I gather that we are having slight issues with Ms Callaghan’s camera, so I will go first to Stephen Kerr,...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Daniel Johnson gave a powerful and compelling speech, and a number of other members have given similarly compelling speeches. To be frank, it is to the shame...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Mr Kerr. I now call Stephanie Callaghan. We might still have issues with the visuals, but I hope that the audio is functioning. After that, we wil...
Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I wish that you had a better photograph of me on the screen, but we will let that pass. Again, I thank Daniel Johnson for brin...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank my good friend Daniel Johnson for bringing the debate to light. Reflecting ahead of it, I was conscious of the great range of my work as an MSP that...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank my friend and colleague Daniel Johnson for continuing to shine a light on this issue. The fact that we need to continue to shine that light should br...
The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
I am grateful to Daniel Johnson for lodging the motion and allowing us the opportunity to discuss an important topic. I am also grateful to the other members...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The minister has corrected the motion, but can I just correct her? We are talking about ASN specialist teachers. Will she acknowledge that the number of spec...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back, minister.
Maree Todd
SNP
As many of the people with whom we have engaged on the LDAN bill are well aware, we are continuing to make progress on the bill. As I have said, we will publ...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The minister is talking about steps that the Government is taking to improve services, but the services in question have been entirely withdrawn in a number ...
Maree Todd
SNP
My officials have reached out to all the health board areas that have made such decisions. As I understand it, a process of redesign is under way, because th...
Michael Marra
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Maree Todd
SNP
I am sorry, but I really would like to progress. I have a number of issues that I want to get round to, including some of the issues that Mr Marra raised. W...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Briefly, minister.
Maree Todd
SNP
Health checks, which are being delivered to thousands of people, are already yielding positive results in identifying unmet health needs and supporting acces...