Summary

  • The Equalities and Human Rights Committee takes evidence on destitution, asylum and immigration status in Scotland

  • Child fares on public transport and A&E waiting times are among the issues raised in general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie leads this afternoon's member's debate on the future of Elmwood campus

  • The Scottish government delivers four ministerial statements on the mental health strategy, transvaginal mesh implants, unconventional oil and gas and the Enterprise and Skills Review

  1. Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. 'I am happy to give an annual report to parliament'published at 14:47 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Mental Health Minister Maureen WattImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says it is the bureau that determines the work of the parliament.

    Ms Watt says she is pleased Mr Briggs recognises the many asks from his party have been met in this strategy.

    She says; "I am happy to give an annual report to parliament."

  3. 'This feels like a missed opportunity'published at 14:47 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Miles Briggs

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs says he is concerned that the government has only allocated 45 minutes for questioning today.

    Mr Briggs says the key message from all stakeholders is that all the words mean nothing if they are not backed up with real reforms.

    The Tory MSP asks how many action points from the previous mental health strategy were achieved.

    He asks how progress will be measured and if the minister will give progress reports to parliament.

    Mr Briggs says "this feels like a missed opportunity".

  4. Postpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  5. Postpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  6. Postpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  7. Bi-annual forum of stakeholderspublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Ms WattImage source, bbc

    Ms Watt says: "To help me steer this Strategy being taken forward, I will be convening a bi-annual forum of stakeholders.  

    "In that forum, I want to hear their views and get their help for now, and in the future."

    She concludes saying: "I believe that together we can deliver the mental health support, care and services that the people of Scotland deserve."

  8. Over the next 5 years investment in mental health will be over £300 million published at 14:43 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    The minister says: "We will work to give access to dedicated mental health professionals to all A&Es, all GP practices, every police station custody suite, and to our prisons. 

    "Over the next five years, that will mean increasing investment to £35 million for 800 additional mental health workers in those key settings."

    teenage girl and boy

    That's in addition to the £150m already set out for improvement and innovation, she says.

    Ms Watt says: "That means I can confirm today that over the next 5 years the total Scottish Government direct investment in mental health will be over £300 million, which will support implementation of this Strategy."

  9. 'We project that NHS spending on mental health will exceed £1 billion for the first time' published at 14:42 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Maureen Watt

    The minister says: "In the coming year, we project that NHS spending on mental health will exceed £1 billion for the first time. 

    "In each year of this Parliament we are committed to that investment increasing – with mental health receiving an increasing share of frontline NHS investment."

  10. Social security system based on 'dignity, fairness and respect' published at 14:41 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    The mental health minister says the Scottish government aims to create a social security system in Scotland that is based on dignity, fairness and respect, and which supports those with mental health problems.

  11. Mental well-being support in schoolpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Pupil

    Ms Watt says the aim of the government is to ensure that every child has appropriate access to emotional and mental well-being support in school.

  12. CAMHS demand continues to increasepublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Maureen Watt

    Ms Watt says the government has  made considerable progress in improving access to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, but demand continues to increase.

    She says the government has listened to concerns about rejected referrals to CAMHS and we will be commissioning an audit of them.

    The minister says the government will also develop a new, separate, 10-year Child and Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Strategy, covering both physical and mental wellbeing.

  13. Children face 12-month mental health waitpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    
          The overall percentage of children being seen within the 18-week target has increased over the past year
        Image source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The overall percentage of children being seen within the 18-week target has increased over the past year

    More than 100 children who began receiving specialist mental health care in the last three months of 2016 had waited more than a year to get help.

    NHS Scotland figures, external  showed that 4,222 patients started treatment from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) over the period.

    Of these, 101 had waited 53 weeks or more for their specialist help.

    Only 16 patients had to wait more than a year in the last quarter of 2015, the statistics showed.

    Two years ago the Scottish government set a target for 90% of young people who were referred for mental health treatment to be seen within 18 weeks.

    The latest figures showed that, in the last three months of 2016, 82.5% of those starting treatment across Scotland waited 18 weeks or less - an improvement from 79% in the previous three months and 76.2% of patients in the period from October to December 2015.

    Read more here.

  14. Focus on prevention and early intervention for children, young people and adults published at 14:38 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Ms Watt says: "We will focus on prevention and early intervention for children, young people and adults, to help prevent the development of mental health problems, and to step in promptly where they develop."

  15. 'Poverty is the single biggest driver of poor mental health'published at 14:38 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    PovertyImage source, Getty Images

    The minister says:"Without question, poverty is the single biggest driver of poor mental health. 

    "The Fairer Scotland Action Plan sets out how we will help tackle poverty, reduce inequality and build a fairer and more inclusive Scotland."

  16. Strategy goalspublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Maureen Watt

    Ms Watt says to achieve parity of esteem over the 10 years of this strategy the following must happen: 

    • equal access to the most effective and safest care and treatment;
    • equal efforts to improve the quality of care;
    • allocation of time, effort and resources on a basis commensurate with need;
    • equal status within healthcare education and practice;
    • equally high aspirations for service users; and
    • equal status in the measurement of health outcomes.
  17. Mental and physical health to have parity of esteem in practice published at 14:35 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Quote Message

    I want mental and physical health to have parity of esteem in practice."

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt , Mental Health Minister

  18. 600 responses to government engagement paperpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Patient with mental health professional

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says the mental health strategy has been fundamentally shaped by views and feedback from organisations and service users across Scotland.

    Ms Watt says there were almost 600 responses to our engagement paper. 

    She says: "The Scottish Mental Health Partnership’s vision is one I suspect we all share. 

    "It is of a Scotland where people can get the right help at the right time, expect recovery, and fully enjoy their rights, free from discrimination and stigma."

  19. Background: Extra £10m for mental health early interventionpublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Mental health consultationImage source, MIND

    Last December it was announced that an extra £10m is being invested to help people with mental health difficulties at an early stage. 

    The Scottish government said the money would be spent over two years and would support new forms of mental health work in primary care settings.

    Some of the work will focus on improving the physical health of people with severe mental illness.

    Ministers said the money was part of efforts to improve early intervention and put more focus on prevention.

  20. Government wants a Scotland where mental health stigma is eradicated published at 14:33 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says she has been driven by the simple principle that mental health should be treated the same way as physical health.

    Ms Watt says the government wants to create a Scotland where mental health stigma is eradicated.

    The minister says in the last decade mental health services have changed dramatically and staff in all organisations, at all levels make a life saving difference every day.