Tag: Scottish Parliament

PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Parliament – Clear view not possible on National Care Service [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 19 December 2022.

A Committee of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament have reported their dissatisfaction with the lack of information about proposals that could see children’s health and social care services integrated into the proposed National Care Service.

The cross-party Education, Children and Young People Committee have been scrutinising the Scottish Government’s proposals. However, they have concluded that it is not possible to form a clear view as to whether children’s services should be included under any future National Care Service.

The Committee expressed concern that much of the detail of any future transfer of children’s services to the National Care Service would be delegated to Ministers, preventing the Parliament from carrying our thorough scrutiny of any changes. Furthermore, the Committee was told that research designed to help inform a decision about whether or not to include children’s health and social care services in the service, will not be ready until September 2023.

The Committee also notes the lack of information regarding the financial implications of bringing children’s services under a National Care Service. Its report urges the Scottish Government to model the cost of different scenarios where children’s services are included and excluded from a National Care Service.

Looking at children and young people’s care more broadly, witnesses told the Committee that existing services need to improve, expressing concern about an implementation gap between policy and the reality of delivering those services.

While some stakeholders spoke positively about the approaches taken in their areas, a range of other issues were identified, including challenges accessing services, poor communication and gatekeeping.

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, told the Committee, “…there is frustration that we have all the right aspirations and good intentions but what happens is not always what was intended.”

In addition, the report calls on the Government to clarify its plans for letting young people design services at the very earliest stages of work to create a National Care Service. With a large number of children and young people receiving health and social care support, Members of the Committee agreed that it would be helpful to know how the Government plans to meaningfully engage with them.

Sue Webber, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee said:

“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us as we scrutinised this Bill.

“The feedback we had has told us that there is not currently enough information about the Bill’s impact on children’s health and social care services for us to form a view about whether this is the right approach for children and young people.

“However, we did hear significant concerns about the way in which these services are operating at present. Therefore, our report asks the Scottish Government to ensure that work on this Bill does not delay the improvements that are needed to children’s services now. Children and young people need to be at the very heart of those discussions.”

This report will now be shared with the Health, Sport and Social Care Committee, which is leading the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Bill.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Difficult budget decisions needed to balance the books, warns Holyrood’s Finance Committee [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 3 November 2022.

A Holyrood committee has warned of difficult tax and spending decisions in the budget if the Scottish Government is to balance the books and address both the cost of living crisis and the lasting impact of Covid.

In a report published today, the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s says an ‘open and honest debate’ with the public needs to be fostered on how to balance spending priorities and taxation.

In its report, the Committee notes that public sector pay rises will be funded, at least in part, through a headcount reduction in the public sector, but calls on the Scottish Government to ensure this is done in a co-ordinated way that minimises the impact on public services.

The report adds it is also now time for the UK Government to concentrate on putting in place measures to bring more stability to the UK economy and recognise the impact of inflation on the Scottish block grant.

Finance and Public Administration Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson said:

“Our Committee accepts that the Scottish Government faces difficult choices in balancing its approaches to spending and taxation – especially if it’s to maintain financial sustainability and support households and businesses through the cost of living crisis.

“An open and honest debate with the public about how services and priorities are funded is now needed, including on the role of taxation in funding wider policy benefits for society.”

On the challenges facing the public sector, Mr Gibson said:

“We acknowledge the challenge the Scottish Government faces in identifying additional money to fund public sector pay rises which respond to inflation.

“The UK Government should also recognise the impact of inflation on the Scottish block grant.

“We ask for assurances from the Scottish Government that it will approach reducing the public sector headcount in a systematic, transparent, and co-ordinated way. This should be done in tandem with the public service reform agenda, with a view to minimising any impact on the delivery of public services.”

On UK economic stability, Mr Gibson added:

“As we say in our report, it is now time for the UK Government to concentrate on putting in place measures to bring more stability to the UK economy.”

November 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Perfect storm’ of financial pressure facing Scotland’s cultural sector [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 31 October 2022.

A ‘perfect storm’ of financial pressure is being faced by Scotland’s cultural sector. This is the warning from the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

In a report published today, the Committee looks ahead to the Scottish Government’s 2023-24 budget and the impact of budgetary decisions on Scotland’s culture sector. It calls on increased urgency to address budget pressures through innovative approaches to funding.

The report underlines recommendations made by the Committee during previous budget scrutiny. It calls for these innovate approaches to be accelerated in order to address the difficulties being faced.

During its consideration, the Committee heard the challenges facing that sector have become more acute as it struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and further compounded by the cost of living crisis following on from longer term budget pressures. The Committee has recommended taking an innovative approach to budgeting including greater use of public and private investment as well as multiyear funding.

The Committee also repeats its call from last year for the mainstreaming of the culture budget. It also asks the Scottish Government for updates on embedding culture more broadly as part its plans for a wellbeing economy. This would take into account the contribution which preventative spend in areas like the arts and other cultural activities makes towards health and wellbeing.

Speaking as the report launched, the Committee Convener Clare Adamson MSP said:

“Scotland’s cultural sector plays a vital role in Scottish life. But we heard blunt warnings from those within the sector that stark choices lie ahead.

“Increased operating costs come at a time when most cultural venues are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, and without truly innovative approaches to funding, there is a real danger that Scotland’s skilled cultural workforce will be lost along with some of our best loved cultural icons.

“There are no doubt considerable pressures across all areas of the Scottish Government budget, and there are no easy choices. But the current situation provides an opportunity to accelerate these innovative solutions. The Scottish Government must take action to protect this fundamental part of our society.”

November 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Presiding Officer leads Holyrood delegation to strengthen links with Nordic Council [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 31 October 2022.

The Scottish Parliament is to attend the Nordic Council for the first time, it has been announced. Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone will lead a delegation of three MSPs to Helsinki later this week (1-4 November).

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Their attendance is part of a move to increase engagement and co-operation between the Scottish Parliament and other legislatures.

Welcoming the opportunity to strengthen ties with the Nordic countries Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, said:

“We continue to build engagement between the Scottish Parliament and other key European legislatures. Sharing experiences with, and learning from, other parliaments is an important objective for us.

“Given the strong historical and cultural ties between Scotland and the Nordic countries, the region is of particular interest to us. This visit builds on co-operation between the Parliament and the Nordic Council at COP26 on the role of parliaments in scrutinising action on climate change.”

Ms Johnstone added:

“Our increased engagement is a signal of how importantly we value our relationship with the Nordic region. Nordic countries share many of our priorities. Many of their parliaments are of a similar size and structure to the Scottish Parliament, and we have much to learn from each other.”

In October, Deputy Presiding Officer Liam McArthur led a delegation to Reykjavik for meetings in the Althingi, Iceland’s Parliament, as well as attending the Arctic Circle Assembly.

The assembly is the largest network of international dialogue and co-operation on the future of the Arctic, attended by more than 2,000 participants from 50 countries included Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the wider Nordic region.

November 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Committee Calls for Clarity on Scottish Government Covid Recovery Funding [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 29 October 2022.

The Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee has called on the Scottish Government to clarify whether the cost crisis will affect the funding of Scotland’s Covid Recovery Strategy.

Following pre-budget scrutiny of how the Scottish Government plans to fund its Covid Recovery Strategy and the ongoing costs associated with the pandemic, the Committee have written to John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, asking for the Committee’s views to be considered when preparing the budget.

The impact of the cost crisis was highlighted during the Committee’s evidence sessions, including concerns from witnesses over how this could affect the funding and delivery of the Covid Recovery Strategy, with some saying the crisis will pose more significant challenges for organisations, service providers and individuals than even those faced during the pandemic.

The Covid Recovery Strategy was published in October 2021, before the scale of the emerging cost-of-living crisis was apparent.

The Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for recovery, focusing on efforts to tackle inequality and disadvantage arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and states that progress towards public service reform and a well-being economy is necessary to tackle these inequalities.

Commenting, Siobhian Brown MSP, Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee, said:

“During our pre-budget scrutiny, we heard that the Scottish Government’s budget is approximately £1.7 billion less than it was worth in December 2021 due to inflationary pressures.

“The Committee, therefore, are seeking clarity on how this will impact the Scottish Government’s priorities and ability to deliver the outcomes as set out in the Covid Recovery Strategy and whether it intends to refresh the strategy to reflect any policy changes in light of the cost-of-living crisis.

“As the budget doesn’t commit to specific spending on COVID-19 or Covid Recovery, it’s important that there is greater clarity provided on how much funding the Scottish Government intends to commit to achieving the outcomes identified in its Covid Recovery Strategy within the upcoming budget.”

The Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny also set out the evidence gathered on costs associated with the Strategic Framework. These included future pandemic preparedness, vaccinations, testing and surveillance, personal protective equipment, monitoring Covid-19 recovery and Scottish Government progress towards developing a well-being economy.

October 30, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Citizens’ Panel on Public Participation to meet in the Scottish Parliament [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 27 October 2022.

A newly established Citizens’ Panel will meet for the first time this weekend (28th – 30th October) in the Scottish Parliament to help shape how Parliament engages with the people of Scotland.

The Citizens’ Panel, comprised of 22 people broadly reflecting the demographic make-up of Scotland, will come together to deliberate how the Scottish Parliament can best work with communities to ensure their needs are reflected in its work.

The Citizens’ Panel will meet for two full weekends at the Scottish Parliament and three shorter evening sessions online.

Earlier this year, the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee launched an inquiry into Public Participation, looking at how people’s voices are heard in the work of the Parliament.

The Citizens’ Panel will assist the inquiry by making recommendations on improving how Holyrood’s work involves, reflects, and meets the needs of the full range of communities it represents, focusing on improving engagement for those currently under-represented.

Throughout the sittings, the Citizen’s Panel will have the opportunity to hear from MSPs and leading academics about democracy and public participation to help facilitate discussion and inform their findings.

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Convener Jackson Carlaw, MSP, said:

“Our inquiry into Public Participation is important because we know that the Parliament doesn’t hear enough from some groups and communities.

“We want to make sure that the views and opinions of everyone in Scotland are included in the work of the Parliament, and the Citizens’ Panel will be crucial to helping us understand how we can improve this.

“Ensuring the Scottish Parliament is accessible to a diverse range of people, particularly when developing new laws or policies that affect them, is essential and the Committee will eagerly anticipate the Citizens’ Panel recommendations.”

October 30, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Health, Social Care and Sport Committee seek views on proposals for a Patient Safety Commissioner [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Parliament on 26 October 2022.

A Holyrood Committee is calling for views on a Scottish Government Bill which proposes the establishment of a new Patient Safety Commissioner in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Patient Safety Commissioner Bill would set up a new role independent of the Government and NHS. The office-holder would have responsibility for promoting and improving patient safety, identifying safety issues within the healthcare system and helping support system-wide improvements.

The Commissioner would also ensure the concerns of patients in relation to patient safety issues are heard and dealt with in a coordinated and effective manner.

The Bill would grant investigatory and information-gathering powers to the Commissioner, who would publish reports on systemic safety issues in patient health care and make recommendations as to how these could be addressed.

Speaking as the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for views was launched, Convener Gillian Martin MSP said:

“Patient safety should always be of paramount importance in the provision of healthcare.

“The proposed establishment of a Patient Safety Commissioner aims to ensure patients’ voices are heard with the goal of promoting and improving patient safety across NHS services in Scotland.

“We are keen to learn from those within the sector and from members of the public if they feel this role will benefit patient safety and ultimately lead to better patient experiences across the health service.”

Let the Committee know your views

The call for views will close on Wednesday 14 December.

October 30, 2022