Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Neurodevelopmental Conditions
I thank the Liberal Democrats for lodging the motion, which highlights the need to improve neurodevelopmental support.
I acknowledge that the increase in the number of people—children and adults—seeking neurodevelopmental support and assessment in Scotland is creating challenges for services right across Scotland. Figures on the number of people seeking a diagnosis for a neurodevelopmental condition are not currently nationally reported or published. We are working with health boards and local authorities to improve our understanding of how many people are seeking support and how that data can be used to deliver improvements.
It is important that I acknowledge that a diagnosis can be important to an individual’s health and wellbeing, but I must stress that a diagnosis is not required to access support. I also want to address the issue raised in the motion of the unmet need for mental health support.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17670, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the inadequate provision for neurodevelopmental c...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
It gives me great pleasure to propose the motion that is before the Parliament. This is the kind of debate that I got into politics to lead, and I am sure th...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I declare an interest as a practising NHS GP. When patients come to see me, they are often desperate, and they come with a private diagnosis. There is nothin...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I think that we all know—we have heard about it in several debates in the chamber—about the pressure that our hard-working GPs are under. I pay credit to San...
The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
I thank the Liberal Democrats for lodging the motion, which highlights the need to improve neurodevelopmental support. I acknowledge that the increase in th...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Does the minister recognise that, although she is right that a diagnosis is not necessary just for support, it is definitely necessary for medication? In som...
Maree Todd
SNP
Certainly. As a prescriber, I recognise the role of medication in the treatment of ADHD. It is not the only treatment, and neither is it the first-line treat...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
The Scottish Conservatives support the motion and will vote for it. As a clinician, I have seen first hand the growing numbers of families that are coming t...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the member for Edinburgh Western for allocating one of his party’s official Opposition day debates to a motion about the inadequate provision for neu...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I, too, thank the Liberal Democrats for bringing forward this important debate, and I express my gratitude to staff across health, education and the third se...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We now move to the open debate. 16:25
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
It was once the case that middle-aged working men were placed on incapacity benefits. They were from post-industrial communities and they were stuck on incap...
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
SNP
It is clear that we are facing significant challenges in how we support individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions in Scotland—challenges that demand not...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to take part in this important debate and I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton and the Liberal Democrats for bringing it to the chamber. This is not the...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The motion sets out clearly the lack of provision for neurodevelopmental conditions and the impact that that is having. The significant waiting times for dia...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The final speaker in the open debate will be Christine Grahame, who has up to four minutes. 16:42
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the debate and recognise the commitment of the Liberal Democrats to the subject. Diagnosis and referral for adults or children who are suspec...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Will Christine Grahame give way?
Christine Grahame
SNP
I will, if the Deputy Presiding Officer will give me a little bit of time back.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Be very brief, Mr Cole-Hamilton.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I understand what Christine Grahame says about people going private, but does she recognise that, if even a small proportion of those who are on waiting list...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I always find it unfortunate when money is able to put people nearer the front of the queue. I do not say that to in any way insult the people who do that—it...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the winding-up speeches. 16:46
Ariane Burgess
Green
The debate has certainly brought to light our urgent need to strengthen the way in which we support people with neurodevelopmental conditions across Scotland...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the Liberal Democrats for bringing the debate to the chamber. I agree with Ariane Burgess that it has allowed us to have a good look at an important ...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
I call Stephen Kerr. 16:53
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is nice to see you back in the chair, Presiding Officer. We have had a good debate. The frustrating thing about it is that we all seem to be agreeing with...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Do you accept the point that I made in my speech that we should not park medication or assessments until a diagnosis is secured but consider interventions an...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Always speak through the chair.
Stephen Kerr
Con
Of course I agree with Christine Grahame on that subject. All practical means should be used to alleviate the suffering and confusion that people feel when t...