Early education plays a crucial role in shaping children’s understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and respect (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
Research confirms that children begin forming perceptions about race from infancy, and by age five, many have already absorbed societal biases. Proactively addressing these issues in early childhood education is vital for fostering a more equitable society.
Across Lothian, schools are making strides toward inclusivity through diverse literature, storytelling, and cultural activities. The Building Racial Literacy Programme, designed to help educators implement anti-racist practices, is a step forward; however, it remains non compulsory, leaving gaps in its widespread implementation.
A 2024-2025 study by Queen’s University found that many teachers lack confidence and time to teach languages, which affects efforts to embrace cultural diversity in classrooms. AI-driven solutions are being explored to bridge this gap, particularly in supporting the teaching of mother languages, which are often underrepresented in Scottish schools.
Language diversity is an issue that extends beyond Scotland. UNESCO reports that 40% of the world’s 6,700 languages are endangered, largely due to economic pressures, urban migration, and dominant education systems.
In Scotland, Polish is the most spoken language after English, Scots, and Gaelic, yet it is not recognised as a National Qualification subject. Similarly, Punjabi, spoken in many Scottish homes, is also excluded from national curricula, raising concerns about inclusivity and accessibility.
Several organisations, such as the Anne Frank Trust, Beyond Srebrenica, and Vision Schools Scotland, are working to integrate lessons from history into modern education. These initiatives provide valuable frameworks for fostering racial awareness, but more support is needed to equip educators with training and resources to facilitate meaningful discussions about race in age appropriate ways.
Critics argue that conversations about race should be kept out of education, while others believe schools must take an active role in shaping inclusive social values. The reality is that inclusivity in education is not just an ideal; it is a necessity for a thriving, diverse Scotland.
A collaborative approach involving educators, parents, and policymakers is essential to ensure young learners gain the tools to navigate an interconnected world.
As the Scottish Labour spokesperson for Culture, Europe, and International Development, I remain committed to advocating for policies that integrate inclusivity into early education.
Investing in these initiatives today ensures a generation that values equality, respect, and understanding, building a stronger, more united Scotland for the future.
Holyrood committee seeks views on proposals aimed at protecting future generations
A proposed new law that aims to ensure public bodies consider the long-term impact of their decisions on sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations is the subject of a new call for views from a Scottish Parliament committee.
The Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill, introduced earlier this year by Sarah Boyack MSP, would place a legal duty on public bodies to promote sustainable development and wellbeing in the work they undertake. It also proposes the creation of a Future Generations Commissioner to support and oversee this work.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee has launched its call for views to inform its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill during which it will also take account of the findings of a recent parliamentary committee report that recommended against the creation of more commissioners.
Sarah Boyack MSP has set out her hopes that the Bill will encourage more joined-up thinking across public services. She also believes that her proposals will help Scotland tackle long-term challenges such as climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation.
The Bill also sets out definitions of “sustainable development” and “wellbeing” and aims to embed these principles into public decision-making in Scotland.
The Committee’s call for views will be open until Sunday 24 August 2025, with the Committee due to start taking formal evidence in the Autumn.
Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “This Bill could have a significant impact on how decisions are made across Scotland’s public sector.
“We’re keen to hear what the public sector and local authorities make of the proposals, and we’d also like to hear from professionals, academics, children and young people, as well as anyone else with an interest in wellbeing and sustainable development.
“By sharing your views with us, you’ll help us explore how the proposals could work in practice and what the changes could mean for Scotland’s future generations.”
Changes to the law which would give children a greater say in decisions around being withdrawn from religious instruction or observance in schools will be considered by a Scottish Parliament Committee, which has today launched a call for views on the proposals.
The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill would require schools to inform pupils if their parent has requested that they be withdrawn from religious education or observance.
It would also give pupils the opportunity to express their views and object to the withdrawal. Under the proposals, where a pupil objects, and is considered capable of forming a view, the school would be required to follow the pupil’s wishes.
In addition, the Bill, which was brought forward by the Scottish Government, seeks to clarify how public authorities should act when duties under the UNCRC conflict with other legal obligations.
The Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee wants to hear the views of children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, local authorities, human rights organisations and any stakeholders with an interest in the proposals.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “This proposed change to the law would give children and young people more say in whether they want to take part in religious education or observance at school.
“It also aims to update how public bodies, like councils and schools, make sure they are respecting children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We want to hear what people across Scotland think about these changes. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, pupil, or just interested in children’s rights, we want to understand how these proposals might work in practice and what impact they could have.”
Against a backdrop of unprecedented cuts to social security for disabled people and on the day of the first reading of the welfare reform bill, representatives of community food organisations from across UK called for urgent steps towards an Essentials Guarantee to ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose:
For the first time ever, more than 700 representatives – including people experiencing severe hardship, volunteers at local food banks and representatives from community food organisations – stood shoulder-to-shoulder to create an historic lobby at Westminster on Wednesday (18th June) as part of the Guarantee our Essentials campaign.
Among the prominent figures at the event was comedian, TV personality and Trussell supporter Nish Kumar who joined calls for a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the essentials, like food.
Right now, more than 9.3 million people – including more than three million children – are facing hunger and hardship across the UK. In response, leading anti-poverty organisations including Trussell, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Independent Food Aid Network, Feeding Britain, Salvation Army and Your Local Pantry united in London to urge the UK government to take immediate action.
People from across the four nations of the UK came to meet their constituent MP, speak out against the levels of severe hardship they are seeing in their local area, and ask policymakers to play their part in delivering urgent and meaningful change to our social security system.
Representatives are calling for steps towards an Essentials Guarantee which would ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose, helping to prevent people from having to use a food bank.
This means moving closer to a guarantee that the basic rate of Universal Credit provides enough to ensure people are at least able to afford the essentials we all need to get by, such as food and bills.
Alongside the lobby, Trussell organised a panel discussion with people experiencing severe hardship and a session hosted by Nish Kumar.
The event took place on the same day the UK government published its draft welfare reform bill, and millions of the UK public nervously wait to hear how MPs will vote on £7 billion worth of cruel cuts to disabled people’s social security payments. These cuts will push 440,000 more people in disabled households into severe hardship, according to Trussell research.
Shockingly, three in four people who come to food banks in the Trussell community are disabled or live with someone who is, as disability payments for too many people already fall short of covering the essentials, like food and heating.
Too many people are falling behind on bills, are becoming trapped in debt, and having to live in cold, damp homes.
Trussell says this is not right, and the majority of the UK public agrees that social security payments for disabled people should be enough to cover at least the essentials.
Representatives at the lobby told more than 150 MPs these levels of severe hardship can and must change for the better. They urged them to play their part and join Trussell, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), and more than 100 charities, in calling on the UK government to create an Essentials Guarantee.
Steps towards achieving this include implementing a ‘full boost’ to Universal Credit, raising it by £5 a week after inflation from April 2026, not April 2029, as planned.
They also called for their MP to back bringing in an initial low-level protected minimum floor in Universal Credit to limit all deductions from social security payments including the benefit cap, to make the government’s new Fair Repayment Rate truly effective.
Campaigners reiterated that whatever happens, we need Universal Credit to be there for all of us when we need it and urged that their MPs cannot ignore the shockingly high levels of severe hardship in our communities. Crucially, they highlighted the opportunity to create some positive changes, such as the boost, to help people as much as possible.
Emma Revie, chief executive at Trussell, said:“With more than 700 of us travelling to Westminster, we couldn’t send a more powerful and clear message to our MPs and to the UK government.
“We will not stand by while 9.3 million of us are facing hunger and hardship. People who have experienced severe hardship, people who work in food banks and from community organisations, as well as charity partners, have gathered from all over the UK, to call for a stronger social security system.
“The moment couldn’t be more crucial. Our event comes as we wait to hear whether MPs are going to vote to cut disabled people’s social security by £7 billion.
“It’s time for the UK government to act , and take steps towards creating an Essentials Guarantee to ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose and protects everyone that needs it.”
Nish Kumar, comedian and Trussell supporter, said:“It’s been incredible to join so many people coming together with one voice to speak out against the rising tide of hunger and hardship in the UK.
“This collective action shows that change is possible when we stand together and call for a future where everyone can afford life’s essentials.
“I’ve seen the incredible work that food banks do to support people facing hardship, but charities cannot and should not bear the brunt of an inadequate social security system that should be there to support us. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet millions of people are struggling to make ends meet.
“We know the most important solution to ending the need for food banks – it’s about ensuring people have enough money in their pockets to put food on the table. This is a political choice, and our government has the power to end it.”
Jacob Forman, director at Epping Forest Foodbank, said: “On the same day the UK government formally introduced a new bill in Parliament proposing significant cuts to support for disabled people, I was proud to stand alongside food banks in the Trussell community to demand better.Better for everyone who has been forced to use a food bank, and better for everyone who may be forced to in the future.
We know the UK public supports a future without food banks, and it’s one of the promises that this government was elected on.
“We have not asked our MPs for the impossible. Instead, we have shared our vast experiences to highlight the actions that can genuinely change the life circumstances of the people we see every day for the better.
“As politicians sit on their benches, I hope our words resonate with them and encourage them push for a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the essentials.”
Jen Coleman, from Black Country Foodbank, a member of the Independent Food Aid Network, said: “Across the whole of the UK, a vast network of charitable food aid providers are united in their calls for the same fundamental changes to our broken social security system.
“Above all, everyone should be able to afford the essentials and a labyrinth of food banks and food pantries shouldn’t be needed to pick up the pieces.”
On 3rd July, MPs will vote on a Bill that could push 440,000 disabled people into severe hardship. There’s still time to contact your MP and urge them to vote against these devastating cuts.
An Edinburgh resident delivered hundreds of handmade stars crafted from empty crisp packets to the Scottish Parliament yesterday [19 June] to demand more action on recycling.
Jenny Kerr, a maths and learning support teacher, made the stars to remind all MSPs that, as the global plastic crisis worsens, Scotland must do more to manage problem plastics like crisp packets. This comes as global negotiations to end plastic pollution as due to be concluded this summer
Jenny has made each of the stars herself. She started making stars out of paper over 40 years ago when a Danish friend taught her how to make the traditional Scandinavian Christmas decoration. Last year, Jenny switched to making the stars out of crisp packets after learning more about plastic waste.
Crisp packets are a type of soft plastic, which is much more difficult and expensive to recycle than other materials. Soft plastics make up over a quarter of post-consumer packaging waste in the UK, but only 7% is recycled.
In August 2025, international negotiations will take place on the final version of a Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution. Plastic contributes to climate breakdown, it harmful to human health and damages wildlife.
Without a treaty, the harms of plastics will escalate, as plastic production is expected to double by 2040.
The UK is part of the high ambition coalition, a group of over 100 countries fighting for a strong treaty. Last year, the First Minister, John Swinney MSP, stated that the Scottish Government fully supported the Global Plastics Treaty.
However, measures required to end Scotland’s dependency on plastics, such as investment in reuse and banning the burning of plastic waste, have not be acted on by the Scottish Government.
Jenny said: “Since embarking on a project to raise money for a local charity by making 1000 stars out of crisp packets this year, I have been almost overwhelmed by donations of empty packets from friends and colleagues, keen to find a use for this waste material.
“People have been shocked to learn that, despite claims by the manufacturers on the packets, crisp packets are not currently recyclable in Scotland.
“We have an addiction to the convenience of these snacks, and the waste must be dealt with. I hope these stars will encourage our MSPs to consider this serious global issue, ahead of international discussions to finalise a Global Plastics Treaty in August, and prioritise taking action in Scotland.”
Kim Pratt, Senior Circular Economy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “Companies are choosing to sell products like crisps in non-recyclable plastic. This cheap packaging boosts corporate profits but it’s terrible for the planet. Very little plastic packaging is ever recycled.
“The best way of dealing with soft plastics is not to make them in the first place. This approach requires meaningful government commitment to a future with less plastic. We urgently need these companies to stop producing so much plastic and find safe and sustainable alternatives where necessary.”
There are no soft plastic recycling facilities in Scotland. In 2023, a soft plastics recycling plant, co-owned by Morrisons and built with £470,000 investment from the Scottish Government, was opened in Fife but was forced to close only a few months later.
This means all the soft plastic rubbish collected in Scotland must be landfilled, burned or exported. Much of it ends up as litter or dumped in the ocean where it breaks down to microplastics.
Scientific studies are increasingly linking microplastics to an array of health impacts including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, auto-immune conditions and neuro-degenerative diseases.
TRUSSELL: The new Universal Credit and PIP bill will push nearly HALF A MILLION more people into severe hardship and towards the doors of food banks
Additional protections for millions of vulnerable people on benefits are set to be written into law, under new measures being introduced to Parliament yesterday [18 June 2025].
New welfare legislation to ensure there are robust protections in place to support the most vulnerable and severely disabled.
Nearly 4 million households to benefit from uprating of Universal Credit standard rate, the largest, permanent real-terms increase to basic out of work support since 1980, according to the IFS.
More than 200,000 people with most severe, lifelong conditions to be protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement.
13-week period of financial support for those affected by PIP changes as part of upcoming welfare reforms.
Comes alongside £1 billion employment support package that will unlock opportunity and grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change.
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit, according to the UK government – but charity Trussell says the bill will push nearly HALF A MILLION more people into severe hardship.
The 13-week additional protection will give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends.
This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.
The Labour government says it inherited a broken social security system, with costs spiralling at an unsustainable rate and millions of people trapped out of work. The case for change is stark:
Since the pandemic, the number of PIP awards has more than doubled – up from 13,000 a month to 34,000 a month. That is around 1,000 people signing on to PIP every day – that is roughly the size of Leicester signing up every year.
The surge has been largely by driven by a substantial increase in the number of people who report anxiety and depression as their main condition. Before the pandemic (in 2019), 2,500 people a month were awarded PIP for these conditions, this has more than tripled to 8,200 a month in 2023.
Almost 1 million young people – 1 in 8 – are not in education, employment or training.
1-in-10 people of working age are now claiming a sickness or disability benefit.
Without reform, the number of working age people on disability benefits is set to more than double this decade to 4.3 million.
Spending on working age disability and incapacity benefits is up £20 billion since the pandemic and is set to increase by almost that much again by the end of this Parliament, to a staggering £70 billion a year.
Labour says that’s why, through the introduction of this Bill; the government is fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.
“This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.
“This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
As part of our (i.e. the Westminster govertnment’s) commitment to protect the most vulnerable and severely disabled, peace of mind will also be given to 200,000 individuals in the Severe Conditions Criteria group – individuals with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions who will never be able to work – as they will not be called for reassessed for Universal Credit (UC) under new legislation.
Those protected from reassessment will also be paid the higher rate of UC health top up of £97 per week, so they can live with dignity and security, knowing the reforms to the welfare system mean it will always be there to support them.
In the coming weeks, legislation will also be drafted for a Right to Try Guarantee. This will ensure that trying work will not, in and of itself, lead to a reassessment or award review, breaking down barriers to employment.
Reforms being delivered by the legislation introduced today go hand in hand with a £1 billion employment support package to support more people with health conditions back into work, unlocking opportunity and growing the economy as part of the Plan for Change.
Funding will offer personalised employment and health support for individuals on out of work benefits, with 500,000 people having already been supported into employment. This is a quadrupling the level of annual spend on supporting sick and disabled people into work, from the £275m in 2024/25 we inherited, to over £1bn in 2029/30.
Nearly 4 million households will also receive an income boost with the main rate of Universal Credit set to increase above inflation every year for the next four years – estimated to be worth £725 by 2029/30 for a single household 25 or over. This is around £250 higher than an inflation only increases.
The Bill will also rebalance Universal Credit rates by reducing the health element for new UC claims to £50 from April 2026, fixing a system which encourages sickness by paying health element recipients more than double the standard amount.
To open up opportunities to work, everyone affected by changes to the UC health element from April 2026 will be offered support from a dedicated Pathways to Work adviser, with 1,000 advisers in place across Britain.
All of those affected by reforms will be actively contacted and given the offer of a conversation about their support needs, goals and aspirations; offered one-to-one follow-on support, and given help to access additional work, health and skills support that can meet their needs.
The reforms build on the Get Britain Working White Paper that will overhaul Jobcentres, empower Mayors and local leaders to tackle inactivity, and deliver a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning, as part of the Government’s ambition to deliver an 80% employment rate.
Additional information
The Bill will introduce a new additional eligibility requirement for the daily living component of PIP so that a minimum of 4 points must be scored on at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component. It will also rebalance Universal Credit.
Based on current forecasts, the rebalancing mean single households 25 or over, will see their standard allowance rise to around £106pw by the end of this parliament.
Current UC health top up is more than double the UC standard allowance for a single claimant.
There are 4 criteria for the healthcare professional to consider, all of which must apply for the claimant to meet the SCC, namely whether:
The individual’s level of function will always meet LCWRA
The individual’s condition will last for the rest of their life
There is no realistic prospect of recovery of function, and
The condition has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in the course of the provision of NHS services.
Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary: “Scrap damaging welfare reforms”
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to protect and enhance social security rather than making cuts.
The UK Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been published today, which includes the details of the first set of changes to ill-health and disability benefits. The Scottish Government will not mirror the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) changes in Adult Disability Payment in Scotland.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The UK Government’s proposed reforms will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“These plans have yet to be passed at Westminster, so there is still time for the UK Government to step back from this damaging policy and I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals.
“The UK Government’s own analysis highlights how the proposals will push 250,000 more people across the UK into poverty – including 50,000 children. With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce.
“That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people’s support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year.
“The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government’s values. We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment.
“The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.”
Responding to the publication of the bill, Helen Barnard, Director of policy at Trussell said: “The UK government’s new Universal Credit and PIP bill, put before Parliament today, does almost nothing to ease the concerns of hundreds of the thousands of disabled people who fear that their social security support will be ripped from them.
“In fact, this bill will push nearly half a million more people into severe hardship and towards the doors of food banks.
“It is easy to see why so many MPs have voiced concerns about the damage this bill will do. What has been published today offers little for MPs deeply concerned about the impact of these cuts on their constituents.
“The last minute details on protections offer something for a small proportion of people, but even they will still see a real-terms cut. The reality of this bill is still record cuts in support for disabled people, and the biggest cuts to social security since 2015.
“It is shocking that MPs are being asked to vote through cuts without a full assessment of their impact, and especially worrying as we know that already three in four people referred to the Trussell community are disabled or live with someone who is.
“We know hunger and hardship already pushes up public service costs alone by £13.7 billion. MPs are being asked to vote for a Bill that will drive up hunger and hardship and undermine the UK government’s promises on economic growth and ending the need for emergency food.”
Today, the UK government published a bill, aimed at reforming the benefits system. Unfortunately, as it stands, this will be a disaster for disabled people – and is likely to worsen people’s living conditions, undermine their mental health, and increase the risk of suicide, says Mental Health Foundation.
These plans will not help reduce the number of disabled people out of work. Instead, they are counterproductive and cruel.
A more effective alternative for the government would be to move forward with its progressive policies that encourage people to return to work, such as the Right to Try scheme and improvements to support in job centres, and look at how well those work, without cutting support for disabled people.
The Scottish Government has committed to simplifying crofting law. This first phase of legislation seeks to “correct known anomalies” in the current legislation. The Scottish Government also acknowledges that a future conversation to consider more fundamental changes may be needed.
This phase 1 Bill would aim to:
help more people become crofters and better support existing crofters and their activities and businesses;
enable more and different activity to be undertaken on common grazings, including peatland restoration and other environmental initiatives;
empower the Crofting Commission to tackle breaches of duty through streamlined processes, and;
resolve crofting regulatory issues more quickly through new and revised powers for Crofting Commission.
The Bill would also merge the Scottish Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland.
Launching the call for views, Committee Convener, Finlay Carson MSP, said: “The Scottish Government is clear that, although more fundamental reform of crofting legislation may be required in the future, this more tightly focused Bill would “correct known anomalies” in crofting legislation.
“Our inquiry will look at these proposed corrections and we’re asking for your views on whether they will address some of the current difficulties in crofting law. Will the proposals solve the problems they seek to address? What other changes are needed that are not included? And will merging the Scottish Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland effect positive and necessary change?”
The Committee intends to take formal evidence on the Bill at Holyrood from September to November with a report to Parliament expected by the end of the year.
Members also hope to visit a crofting community as part of their scrutiny, to speak with crofters about how the Bill’s proposals would impact crofting communities.
The call for views will be open until Friday 5 September 2025.
WESTMINSTER’s Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hear from activist, writer and speaker Laura Bates in Parliament on Wednesday, 18 June during the third evidence session of its inquiry into Misogyny: the manosphere and online content.
MPs on the cross-party committee chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen will examine the rise of the manosphere and its influence on misogynistic behaviour and attitudes online and offline.
The session will also look at the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how this is facilitating misogyny, and the links between the misuse of AI and the manosphere.
Discussion is expected to focus on non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII) through deepfakes, linked to the Committee’s current and prior work on NCII abuse, and other aspects of Bates’ research, including bias in artificial intelligence.
WEC’s inquiry explores the prevalence and impact of misogynistic views, attitudes and behaviour among men and boys, particularly in schools and educational settings, and the reasons for this.
It examines ways that boys and young men are also being harmed and if better support, activities and services need to be available to them.
During the First Minister’s Questions on Thursday MSP Foysol Choudhury questioned the Scottish Government on the accuracy of the expected wait times given to patients seeking specialist treatment from the NHS.
He raised concerns about why patients are being left in the dark regarding NHS wait times after being referred to see a specialist.
“Patients and families need to know what to expect. Right now, they’re left in limbo,” he said.
In the exchange, Mr Choudhury pressed the First Minister for a response:“How is the government working to ensure that patients are accurately informed of waiting times for NHS treatment following referrals to a specialist?”.
This question followed a distressing story shared by one of his constituents, whose referral to be seen by a specialist has far exceeded any acceptable limits, with no set date for an appointment after over a year of waiting since the initial referral.
Mr Choudhury also questioned whether the First Minister would acknowledge that his Government has lost control of escalating waiting times for specialist care, as these excessive delays leave patients experiencing prolonged periods of distress and uncertainty, significantly impacting their mental health.
This is not an isolated incident and is a genuine, growing concern across Scotland, with patients being told they are “on the list” without any clear indication as to when their appointment will be. This is illustrated by the following: In NHS Lothian, the number of people waiting over 52 weeks to see a dermatologist has doubled in the last year.
Mr Choudhury hopes the First Minister will consider some steps to improve patient experience and restore trust in the system.
He has called for greater transparency so that every patient can receive a clear idea of how long they may have to wait before accessing specialist treatment. He also emphasised the need for greater certainty around whether and when patients will receive care, alongside improved visibility of waiting times and targets made publicly available.
“Patients cannot, and must not, be left in the dark. We need a system where every person knows when they will be seen and what care they can expect. Until then, I will continue pressing this Government to act.”
First Minister announces changes to Ministerial team
Tackling the housing emergency will be at the heart of the Scottish Cabinet, First Minister John Swinney has announced.
Màiri McAllan has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Housing upon her return to government from maternity leave. Ms McAllan has responsibility for all aspects of housing policy, including heat in buildings.
This appointment will ensure government action is focused on tackling the housing emergency and providing energy efficient homes for the future – helping stimulate economic growth, deliver Net Zero commitments and tackle child poverty.
Gillian Martin has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, having held the portfolio during Ms McAllan’s maternity leave.
Following the death of Christina McKelvie in March, Maree Todd will become Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, while retaining her existing responsibility for Sport. Tom Arthur has been appointed as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan has requested to leave the Scottish Government and he does so today (Wednesday). Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan will leave Government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim basis.
Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government reduces to 23, down from 27 in May 2024.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland’s strengths lie in our people, our communities and our resolve to leave a better future, and better country for the next generation. As First Minister, I am firmly focused on leading a government that unlocks the potential for every person in Scotland to thrive.
“I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency.
“These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change.
“Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts.
“I want to thank Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan for the service they have provided to me, the government and to the people of Scotland.
“They both held two very important Ministerial appointments in housing and climate action and have helped to drive forward progress in tackling two issues which are central to Scotland’s long-term success as a nation.”
The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve, the majority of whom are women. Further changes mean the Ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen.
The Scottish Cabinet is as follows:
First Minister John Swinney
Deputy First Minister, with responsibility for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop
Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson
