Hansard

I thank my colleague Rona Mackay for securing this important debate, and my colleagues Jackie Dunbar, Annie Wells and Carol Mochan for their important contributions. I assure everyone that the Scottish Government is committed to preventing the harm caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and to supporting those impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

As has been outlined over the course of the debate, FASD is a lifelong neurodivergent condition that can affect every area of a person’s life. That is why the Scottish Government is determined to ensure that people with FASD have the opportunity to live life on their own terms, properly supported when they need to be.

We are working to ensure that our policy on FASD is joined up across various areas of Government, including alcohol education and maternal and pre-conception health, to name but a few. We are taking forward a number of important pieces of work that are relevant to future prevention and support for people with FASD in Scotland.

As some members will be aware, we published in 2018 an alcohol framework that set out a commitment to increasing awareness of FASD and supporting improved diagnosis. We are currently developing a refreshed alcohol and drugs strategic plan that responds to the alcohol and drugs crisis, and we aim to publish that new strategic plan in early 2026, ahead of the conclusion of the national mission on drugs.

The clear message from our chief medical officer on alcohol during pregnancy remains “No alcohol, no risk”. That message is also featured in the “Ready, Steady, Baby!” guidance and on NHS Inform, where there is information on why women should avoid alcohol when they are pregnant or are trying to conceive.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of pre-conception care to aid pregnancy planning and preparation, which can significantly reduce avoidable harm, including from alcohol. I am pleased to say that we are taking action through delivery partners, communities and families to enable all children to develop to their full potential, including before and during pregnancy. That work is part of our commitment to acting on early child development through our transformational change programme.

Additionally, our recently published population health framework sets out plans for tackling the root causes of poor health and reducing the life expectancy gap between the poorest and most affluent areas across Scotland, including initial action to reduce health-harming risks during pre-conception and in pregnancy.

Related to that, Scotland’s “Women’s Health Plan”, which was published in August 2021, sets out actions that aim to address women’s health inequalities by raising awareness of women’s health, improving access to healthcare for women across their lives, and reducing inequalities in health outcomes for women and girls. We are now working on the next phase of the plan, which is expected to be published in January next year.

We know how important it is to provide education and training that are specific to FASD, as well as support to families and individuals with FASD. Over the past four years, we have provided almost £2 million, including £620,000 this year, to improve understanding of and support for FASD.

We fund the FASD hub through Adoption UK to support people affected by FASD as well as their families. The hub provides peer support, training and advice, including an advice line that is open to all parents and carers in Scotland who are parenting a child or young person with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure and one-to-one support.

We also fund the fetal alcohol advisory support and training—or FAAST—team at the University of Edinburgh. The team provides consultation and training to professionals, including tiered training programmes that give them the tools that they need to recognise, support and diagnose people who are affected by FASD.

We are aware of significant increases in the number of neurodivergent people, including those with FASD, seeking a diagnosis and requiring support. Although that creates challenges for a range of services, we recognise how important a diagnosis and support can be to someone’s wellbeing. I assure members that the Scottish Government is working closely with national health service boards and local authorities to improve services and support for neurodivergent people, and we have set up a new children and young persons neurodevelopmental task force to drive forward those improvements, as well as providing an additional £500,000 this year to enhance the support available to children and families.

The Scottish Government remains committed to preventing FASD, and to supporting those with FASD to live their best lives. We will continue to work across Government and with partners to increase awareness of FASD, enhance prevention measures, and support the delivery of those measures to those who are affected by FASD.

I again thank members for their contributions, and Rona Mackay for securing the debate.