SNP leadership candidates answer questions on disability issues

Andy Stuart, the disabled members convener for the SNP, sent the rivals 30 questions – in a bid to ensure those in Scotland affected by the issues discussed were able to make an informed choice in the contest.

The National is publishing the answers from the campaigns of Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf in full below.

Responding to the questions as a whole rather than individually, Kate Forbes said: “The issues that you raise are wide-ranging and important, starkly reflecting the diversity of challenges currently faced by disabled people in Scotland.

“Our homes, workplaces, transport system, public systems and local environments are too often designed or operated in a way that excludes disabled people.

“Scottish Government work on A Fairer Scotland For Disabled People aims to address these injustices and reflects our consultation and engagement with disabled people about how to reduce barriers, tackle inequalities and ensure equal enjoyment of their rights as set out under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“Whilst much good work has been undertaken, as laid out in your correspondence, there is clearly a way to travel to ensure our aspirations become a reality for disabled people in Scotland.”

1. In Government would you be prepared to create new different Ministries to better deliver for the underrepresented and disadvantaged people like disabled people?  If so, what ministries would you create?

Ash Regan: Delivering for all of Scotland and our people’s priorities is my priority. The latest report on the relative index of inequality (RII), the Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities March 2023 report alerts us to a need for action, both at local and population levels to ensure that post Covid 19, we have the right strategies and supports across Scotland to raise the bar on health outcomes for all.

Inequality impacts representation and our focus must be on identifying, understanding and taking action to remove barriers to representation and support that cut across all protected characteristics and none. We must tackle them through every portfolio in every ministry of government. Poverty scars our resource abundance and talent-rich nation and we must tackle the inequalities that poverty creates for life chances and health outcomes in everything we do. 

Only by removing barriers can we build and sustain a Scotland where no one is left behind. For our party that starts on day 1, when we set the tone for other’s to follow for an Equality Strategy for our members, by the members, to ensure that opportunities for representation at the branch, CA, Regional and National levels are not only open to all but equitably so through training and ongoing support and to remove barriers to participation. When SNP gives a strong voice to our members on the barriers to inequality, we create a platform to co-design solutions with those on the front line that will inspire our actions to tackle inequality across Scotland.

Humza Yousaf: Yes, I would definitely consider measures such as these, to best meet the needs of all people in Scotland.

2. How will you square the circle of Local Decision making to deliver National Policy and creating a post code lottery of services, especially in the areas of Disability services, mental health, care services and physical health?

Ash Regan: Decisions made locally can be powerful in ensuring they best meet the needs of local people but that can also lead to the ‘postcode lottery’ you have described in the implementation of national standards in key areas of health and care provision and also accessibility of services.

The circle is only squared when we put decision-making and implementation at the right levels of government and ensure that they are both adequately resourced, supported and measured to alert on where things and working well and where they need work. National Plans must not only devolve down to Local Plans but local plans and tracking of implementation must also feed upwards, to share learnings and best practice implementation across Scotland.

What and how we measure success is also key, we must get this right and that needs a real understanding of all the contributory factors that impact the delivery of disability services, mental health, care services and physical health, and ensure we are seeing ambition objectives with robust implementation plans and tracking critical metrics on outcomes to ensure service meet the needs of service users and are sustainable from those delivering the services.

Humza Yousaf: I am committed to securing a New Deal for Local Government to give them more powers especially around funding mechanisms. I want to loosen ring fencing as far as possible but not too much to let Labour and Tory administrations stray away from progressive SNP Government commitments. I believe that the National Care Service is important for tackling the postcode lottery not only for working conditions but for services received.

3. There are serious issues in the treatment of Mental Health.  Will you commit to make Mental Health services as a bare minimum are patient centric not physician or politician centric and how will you go about doing so?

Ash Regan: Mental Health, like Physical Health, should always be patient-centric, and that means a responsibility on us as political decision-makers to be informed by both service users and service providers. Our incredible Scottish NHS has committed clinicians and support staff at every level who help us all when we are in need. This must be not just acknowledged but supported to ensure we sustain and enhance Health Services across Scotland that remain free at the point of need and meets the needs of our population.

Humza Yousaf: I certainly will commit to making Mental health services are patient-led, as a bare minimum.

4. Disabled people are significantly affected by the proposals for a National Care Service will you ensure that we are at the table codesigning how that will look/work?

Ash Regan: Having worked for Common Weal as a campaigner before entering politics, I understand how powerful the co-design of approach to solutions is, to achieve ambitious change. The Common Weal based its policy on National Care Service on the work done by a Care Group of experienced individuals from across the sector who were committed to getting care right. The importance of listening at every stage of change should never ben underestimated.

The SNP’s National Care Service proposal has raised concerns from across the sector but I believe we can work together to ensure an ambitious and sustainable NCS can be delivered. In Government, we must ensure that we always listen to valid concerns so we can create solutions that are both desirable and workable for those who will implement them and critically for those who will use the service. Supporting our care community in, or as close to as possible, their own communities is something that resonates across all the conversations I’ve had on care. The support of quality, valued staff teams, is also core to a sustainable solution to the delivery of care.

Humza Yousaf: We simply cannot design a National Care service without the input and guidance from our disabled population, and indeed carers. We want this system to be user-led with input from across all areas of our population. This will include Unions, carer organisations, as well as disabled groups. I am aware that the People-Led Policy Panel and Inclusion Scotland have submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation about these plans, and a meeting with Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care has also taken place - this feedback has been invaluable.

As you will be aware I intend to pause the rollout of the National Care Service, and part of the reason is for further discussion and input to get a wide range of views on how this can best work. We need a National Care service that works and meets the needs of everyone who requires it. We need to build in an Equalities and Human Rights approach to this also. I would expect that more discussion with organisations such as the People-led policy Panel and further afield will be essential to help build this into the service. Quite simply, the National Care Service must work. It must provide care in a safe, secure and dignified manner for all of us.

Communication, collaboration and compromise must be core to this then, so we can have a service that genuinely meets the needs of all.

5. Many Disabled people rely very heavily on the army of unpaid carers, many of whom are our family members and even our children.  What will you do to better support all unpaid carers?

Ash Regan: Our Scottish Government has led the way in support of carers but we can still do more. Financial support and respite are key but when we listen to real experience there is still much to do. Supporting families through available services and identifying gaps in implementing accessible living and practical support and advice to ensure carers are part of a support network and not left to tackle any problems alone in caring for their friends and relatives. Much has been done in the social sector to fill gaps in government provision and we must include them in supported solutions to meet the needs of carers.

Humza Yousaf: I want to put on record my recognition of the invaluable role unpaid carers play in protecting and supporting disabled people, and to recommit to 2021 manifesto commitment to introduce better allowances for carers, and try and build a formal recognition of the role of unpaid carers. We are committed to working towards a wellbeing economy, and part of that is developing measures of economic performance that take proper account of the contribution and cost of formal and informal care.

I believe the very least we can do is to improve on our existing financial support. We currently have a Carer’s allowance supplement that can top up carer’s income. You will be aware we are in the process of introducing Scottish Carer’s Assistance. Working with carers and support organisations we developed five key priorities that will help improve this benefit uptake. This includes removing education restrictions so carers can study full-time, as well as increasing the amount carers can earn.

Finally, this will also allow carers to add together hours spent caring for more than one person to reach the 35 hours a week caring requirement for this allowance. We are committed to ensuring our carers are not forced to live in poverty, and this financial investment will play a role in ensuring better stability for carers.

6. How do we include those with profound disabilities, learning disabilities, or who are nonverbal and are unable or have extreme difficulties participating?  What will you do to ensure that their voices are heard, and views are given the appropriate level of consideration in all spheres of government?

Ash Regan: We must work harder to find ways to ensure our most vulnerable people have advocacy across all spheres of government. Accessibility and safeguarding should be foremost in all policies to both protect those who cannot protect themselves and to provide agency for them in decision-making. Trusted advocates should be included in any discussions and decision-making in the care of a vulnerable person.

Humza Yousaf: We have to constantly involve and include people with profound disabilities and those who help them advocate for themselves. We also need to be active in adapting how we host these conversations to best meet individual needs.

7. What will you do to address the delays to the full administration of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and transfer of Scottish PIP claimants to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) to remove all interaction with the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) for Scotland’s Disabled people to remove the stress and harm caused by the DWP processes?

Ash Regan: Scottish Social Security has been a breath of fresh air to Scotland and a beacon of what we can achieve under independence as it shows who we are as a society. Putting dignity and respect at the heart of social security removes the hostile barriers faced by our vulnerable which are so damaging to those already struggling. The transfer of Scottish PIP claimants to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) under Scottish Social Security must be completed at the earliest opportunity.

I will prioritise understanding where our rollout program across Scotland is now, what barriers are faced to complete it and ensure the right people are in the room to overcome any barriers.

We must do this right but also at the optimal speed to ensure our vulnerable are all supported in Scotland and not fearful of another damaging PIP assessment, exacerbating anxiety for so many.

Humza Yousaf: I believe it is imperative to the wellbeing and dignity of our disabled communities to move away from the intrusive, inconsiderate DWP systems for distributing disability-related benefits. Social Security Scotland is founded on the principles of fairness, respect and decency. I will work with SSS to seek a solution to accelerating the transfer of people on PIP to ADP and campaign for more transfers of powers from the UK Government in this regard. I also want to engage with those in receipt of SSS benefits and their advocates to see if there are unnecessary hurdles in place with the benefits system and work to remove them across the board.

8. What will you do to improve the work opportunities and fairness for disabled people in work, be that the closing the pay gap, removing ALL barriers to enter the workplace (including but not exclusively the benefit trap), or addressing work opportunity discrimination? 

Ash Regan: Scottish Social Security has a real opportunity to look differently at approaches to disabled people in work, that support them entering and sustaining them in the workplace but do not put additional financial or work opportunity discrimination barriers in front of them. Good solutions start with listening and understanding what success looks like and what the key steps to achieving it are. This highlights the need for true representation across our party and political decision making.

Humza Yousaf: I think a great place to start would be expanding the business partnerships of the Young Person’s Guarantee to improve the range of paid work opportunities, including specific contracts for disabled people to be included in all places of work. The Government would need to ensure that employers are provided with the relevant support on how to improve or adapt practices where necessary to make them inclusive for all.

9. How will you work to increase the number of SNP disabled elected members in all spheres of government? Will you encourage and support any existing members who may already have an undisclosed/not publicly known disability to, in their own time of cause, disclose and speak about the challenges they face as a result of their disability and use their lived experience in their political life?

Ash Regan: I reiterate my answer to question 1, by identifying and removing barriers. Only by removing barriers can we build and sustain a Scotland where no one is left behind. For our party that starts on day 1, when we set the tone for other’s to follow for an Equality Strategy for our members, by the members, to ensure that opportunities for representation at the branch, CA, Regional and National levels are not only open to all but equitably so through training and ongoing support and to remove barriers to participation.

Everyone has the fundamental right to privacy and we must honour that. When we create supportive environments we encourage sharing of experience but we must allow individuals to choose if and when to contribute.

Humza Yousaf: Although I am a minority in regards to my race and religion, I cannot speak on behalf of disabled people or pretend to know the additional hurdles they would face when entering the world of politics. Therefore, I would like to engage with successful disabled politicians and activists and draw on their experience to encourage other disabled people to see the reality of being disabled in politics. We should be hosting talks and events to promote disabled people coming forward and standing for election. I would never want to push someone into running for a position they did not feel comfortable with, but I would look to support and champion those who are inspired to follow the political path.

10. There are many issues regarding the treatment of people suffering from Chronic Pain, what will you do to improve the lives of those who continue to endure this day in day out for years on end?

Ash Regan: Chronic Pain is debilitating and another factor we must tackle in inequalities to ensure we combine clinical support with environmental support to remove barriers to opportunities to participate as fully in society as individuals are able to. The individual and societal impacts of Long Covid create a major challenge that will require bigger thinking and pulling together of resources to get a sustainable outcome that improves the lives and health outcomes of sufferers.

Humza Yousaf: I really sympathise with those living with Chronic Pain as I know from engaging with organisations as Cabinet Secretary and also engaging with people in my constituency as an MSP, that it is not a one size fits all solution to easing the effects of living with chronic pain. 

One thing we can do is improve the terms and conditions of employment to make it more flexible and bespoke to individual needs. We need to build trust in our incredible workforce, especially those with chronic pain and illnesses. I believe improving working conditions and contracts is a good start. That is just one example of how I would look to improve the lives of those who live with an energy limiting condition.

11. We are failing our D/deaf young people in the education system, only 1% of hearing students leave school with no qualifications but that rises to 10% of our D/deaf young people, only 29% of our D/deaf young people go on to university compared to 45% of our hearing young people. What will you do to address these, and other significant disadvantages faced by our D/deaf young people?

Ash Regan: The (BSL) National Plan (2017 - 2023) was developed through extensive engagement with D/deaf and Deafblind BSL users and those who work with them. We must now learn from our D/deaf and Deafblind BSL what works and what needs work and priorities this under out plan to eliminate inequalities and ensure no young person is left behind.

Humza Yousaf: I agree that the Government needs to provide better training and support for teachers and teaching staff to improve inclusion and adapt their lessons so we are Getting It Right For Every Child in line with Government policy. I am committed to working with the Education Secretary to improve this if elected as First Minister.

12. Is it ever acceptable to run a political campaign that isn’t fully accessible for disabled people?  If not, why have YOU done so during the leadership election (Images online that don’t have Alt Text descriptions, videos without subtitles, zero use of BSL, text over images, are some examples across all candidates)?

Ash Regan: The campaign team is small but we have tried to make it as accessible as possible and learned along the way. We put Alt Text descriptions on our social media and have sought feedback from our disabled Ash Ambassadors. The short time scale of the campaign has been a challenge to being able to access more of our members and engage with them to meet their needs.

We had some upset disabled people who were unable to travel due to accessibility issues and unable to access online debate space. We would ensure those will accessibility issues are prioritised and hybrid events are the new normal for meetings and events to ensure no one id left out of participating.

Humza Yousaf: It is true that in this fast paced society we live in sometimes getting news out quickly is prioritised, which is obviously wrong if not everyone can be involved in consuming that media. I have been asking my social media campaign team to ensure we are providing ALT text on all image based posts. We have made sure we have written subtitles on videos and BSL signers have been included at SNP hustings events. I agree it is an area we need to improve on and it largely consists of engaging with different communities and people to understand how we can best serve all communities using online content. 

Sadly, none of us candidates had the luxury of preparing for the campaign behind the scenes. We had to hit the ground running from Day 1. In the future, having a specific person or team specifically dedicated to focusing on inclusion and accessibility would be a vital first step. This is an effort that should be made and we should make this normal practice in all aspects of Government and SNP policies and engagements.

13. At the Aberdeen Conference I had the pleasure of speaking to three senior police officers on the Police Federation stand, I asked them in their opinion what percentage of people in the criminal justice system were there because of an underlying mental health condition. I was shocked by the reply; All of them, so with that in mind, whilst still protecting public safety obviously, what changes would you make to the Criminal Justice, Education and Health systems to better deliver for people with mental health problems?

Ash Regan: We must understand the underlying problems that lead to poor Criminal Justice, Education and Health outcomes in order to create root cause solutions.

Humza Yousaf: We need to continually do better in all aspects of life to ensure we are better serving and supporting people with mental health conditions. I would work with the Mental Health Minister to engage with stakeholders and organisations on how the Government can implement meaningful and practical improvements.

14. We have family & friends that we (try) to visit but if they are living in inaccessible unadapted properties, it affects our relationships and impacts everyone’s quality of life. Will you commit to make changes to the law/building standards, etc, regarding the building of ALL new housing to ensure that they are accessible, have the most common adaptations as standard and have the structural “future proofing” for more extensive disability aids to be fitted? 

Ash Regan: Yes and support people through the process of retro fit adaptations!

Humza Yousaf: Yes I agree that we need to future proof homes as best as we can with our current knowledge. This highlights just one of many reasons we need to make this a reality. So, I am committed to progressing legislation which guarantees all newly built homes are made in such a way to be easily adapted for a variety of needs.

15. An issue raised by some members with Disability & LGBTQ+ Intersectionality.  What are your views on healthcare reform in which services, facilities, resources, and spaces are provided based on an individual’s sex characteristics, and not explicitly solely on the grounds of sex marker?

Ash Regan: Safeguarding, dignity and respect is the critical factor in ensuring healthcare is not accessible to all and accessed by all. Everyone should be accommodated in ways that priritises their safety and comfort and that of others.

Humza Yousaf: I agree - in my current roles I am actively working to ensure our services are as inclusive as possible, informed by lived experience. As First Minister I would endeavour to take this further.

16. Long Covid is a potential long term disabling condition which effects many people currently, like conditions such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Functional Neurologic Disorders (FND) and other similar conditions very little is known about them, research is often poor due to small numbers of participants as a result accurate diagnosis and treatments where available can be detrimental. What will you do to address these issues?

Ash Regan: Chronic conditions need holistic solutions as the impact on both individuals and society is debilitating. My presided Health Summit will include identifying the best approaches to tackle chronic conditions and their outcomes.

Humza Yousaf: I am very familiar with this issue from my role as Health Secretary, during which time the Scottish Government has committed £10million in the Long Covid Fund, dedicated to researching symptoms and best practice for treatment. The Covid-19 Recovery Committee plans to scrutinise what action the Scottish Government is taking to address long Covid and post Covid syndrome, specifically focusing on the themes of: Awareness and recognition; therapy and rehabilitation; and study and research. I understand that whilst there isn’t a one solution fits all when supporting people with energy limiting conditions, I would hope that the outcomes of this committee could go towards helping not just people with Long Covid but those with chronic fatigue or ME for example.

17. What will you do to ensure our young people get the early accurate diagnosis of Neurodivergent conditions and are provided with the additional support they need to reach their full potential?

Ash Regan: Early accurate diagnosis of Neurodivergent conditions is key to removing the additional barriers of damage to self-esteem and social stigma. We must accept nothing less than ensuring we create environments that allow everyone to reach their potential with the right support at the right time in the right place. 

Humza Yousaf: You will be aware that the Scottish Government has started work on an important and – as world leading – legislation, the Learning Disability, Autism, and  Neurodiversity Bill, which would include a Commissioner to protect / promote the rights of these communities. We have begun the process of a lived experience panel to take this forward. It is expected that the installation of a Commissioner for Autistic people and people with a learning disability will be core to this new legislation and ensure that any changes we make to improve the lives and accessibility for our neurodivergent community be upheld and built into practice across the board.

The consultation noted two things from those with used experience. There was an issue of support without a diagnosis and support that comes with a diagnosis. These will be core issues to be engaged with as part of the bill. We would agree with the main findings of the report, Closing the Accountability Gap, and see the legislation as seeking to hold local authorities and service providers to account for services they provide. And we would also see the role of the Commissioner as essential to this. These services must include diagnosis and support that follows from that diagnosis. If elected as First Minister, I will re-commit to introducing the Bill by the end of this Session of Parliament. We will ensure the Bill includes clear provisions for establishing a commissioner.

18. Dyslexia is a condition that affects 10% of the general population but that rises to 20% in rural/agricultural communities. Will you significantly reduce or abolish the costs associated with adult diagnosis of Dyslexia and ensure that all children affected by this condition are diagnosed early?

Ash Regan: Yes, we should look at ensuring early diagnosis in educational settings and not penalising those who have been missed in early diagnosis.

Humza Yousaf: There are a few issues that needs to be addressed here. Firstly there would be the issue of diagnosis and secondly there is the issue of needs-led teaching. The process for SplD assessments do differ according to each LEA, and this can lead to differences in the nature of how children are diagnosed at school. The other issue here, however, is the role of inclusive teaching for all children, including children with SplD, the Scottish government’s Dyslexia and Inclusive practice.

19. In government will you commit to prioritising the information you receive from Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) ahead of disability charities? (This is an important distinction for many disabled people, DPOs' membership and board are by majority disabled people and reflect our lived experience. Disability charities do important work and many are extremely good, however they seek to speak for disabled people, and some don’t consult or include disabled people at all.)

Ash Regan: There should be no decision about disabled people, without disabled people.

Humza Yousaf: Yes, but I want to be clear that I would also seek to include disabled charities in the conversation too, but I appreciate why it is important to speak with the DPO first and understand how and who they are advocating for.

20. Will you expand the provision of medicinal cannabis on the NHS, many people are either suffering in extreme pain or have been forced to get a private prescription at great personal cost, this is unfair and unjust, we can do better?

Ash Regan: We can and must do better to ensure medicinal cannabis and any prescription medication which is determined as a solution by clinicians is available on the NHS. Drug policy is reserved but we must work to promote the best solutions for the people of Scotland until they can determine that themselves under independence. 

Humza Yousaf: I have enormous sympathy for the motivations behind this question. In the UK, the laws have relaxed around prescribing medical cannabis. Still, I know that is little comfort to the many families paying absorbent fees for a range of private prescriptions for cannabis products to access medicines that offer them desperately needed relief. While the regulations for licensing and supply of medicines remain reserved to the UK Government, which includes the scheduling of cannabis-based products for medical use,  I would support MP colleagues like Ronnie Cowan MP, who have called for positive action and the urgent expansion of clinical trials to be undertaken in the UK to seek to build confidence for clinicians in the use of these therapies and remove the need for families to seek private alternatives.

21. With regard to the provision of disability adaptations to social housing, some local authorities and housing associations are using an assessment process which is almost DWP-like in its approach, disabled people are stressed by this process and end up going without the adaptations they so badly need, leaving them in extreme pain. What will you do in government to remove these fiscally driven barriers to delivering much-needed services and adaptations for disabled people?

Ash Regan: Scottish Social Security put dignity and respect at its heart and mint set the standard here. Assessment should be on need only and Scotland must do better and can do better with the powers we have but systemic change is only possible through independence.

Humza Yousaf: I understand that strict assessments will be in place by the housing associations due to working within tight budgets. However, that should not mean that disabled people suffer. Therefore, I believe future-proofing new homes will help address this issue in the long term. As a short term measure, we need to refocus funding in the housing sector to allow adaptations to be made quickly. It is not right to have people staying in a property unsuitable for them, meaning they are housebound and can’t live their life.

22. What are your views on the best ways of taking equality forward, especially for those who can’t effectively communicate problems or abuse issues, due to issues relating to cognitive ability, non-verbal communication, developmental issues, etc?

Ash Regan: A system based on safeguarding and advocacy is essential to protect and represent the needs and wants of our most vulnerable.

Humza Yousaf: We need to respect those in receipt of support and care, but also give similar respect and support to those providing the care. I feel we need a more robust system where caregivers are given respect through better governance so they have the ability and support to properly advocate for their service users.  Giving caregivers the best support will in turn allow service users to have opportunities to advocate for themselves with the right protections in place.

23. Would you be willing to look at care reform, to the extent of allowing a National Care Service to establish a Dementia Village which can be run with the help of local councils, to drastically improve on the care service for people with cognitive and mobility issues? As well as other novel, ethical and modern alternatives to care homes?

Ash Regan: Yes, absolutely, we must bring bigger, more ambitions ideas to create better solutions in care.

Humza Yousaf: Absolutely, the consultation around development of the National Care Service  will seek to explore and incorporate innovative treatment models, and ensure that such services are available across the whole of Scotland.

24. Will you guarantee that care home staff will have explicit training on autism, neurodiversity and non-communicative care?

Ash Regan: Yes, you cannot adequately care for someone without understanding them, and their needs and communication of those needs.

Humza Yousaf: This is a commitment that I will look to put in place.

25. We are rightly doing a lot for care experienced young people, however our young carers also face significant, social, financial, and educational disadvantages, but we do little for them. What will you do to address the challenges these incredible young people face?

Ash Regan: I met recently with Who Cares Scotland and will continue to do so with our incredible young cared for people to ensure that they can have the agency they need to bring equity of opportunity into their lives.

Humza Yousaf: It is rightly essential the Scottish Government recognises the invaluable contribution of our young carers across Scotland. And I am glad that the SNP Government committed to enhancing carer’s rights under Nicola Sturgeon. This is a commitment that I will echo if elected as First Minister.  Many of our young carers may struggle to participate in everyday activities with their peers. Therefore, we must ensure we build on policies that allow our young carers to pursue their aspirations, remove barriers to participation with their peers and reduce social isolation. I am proud of our record in supporting our carers. We delivered the Young Carer Grant and the Carers Act, which enshrined carers’ rights in law for the first time. I promise if I become First Minister, I will work with Young Carers, the third sector and our local authorities to see how best we can build on that start to best deliver for our young carers.

26. 30% of people living in poverty in Scotland live in a household with a disabled person, when you discount Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), and Attendance Allowance.  Will you examine what can be done with the powers of devolution to ensure disabled people receive a genuine living income and commit to delivering all you can to end this health created injustice?

Ash Regan: Yes, this must form a critical part of tackling inequalities.

Humza Yousaf: Yes, of course, as First Minister, it will be essential to ensure we as a government are pursuing all avenues within the confines of devolution to tackle health-created injustice.

Throughout the campaign, you will have heard me talking about the well-being economy. This is economic activity that serves to prioritise the collective well-being of all its citizens, including ensuring families with people with disabilities are served and delivered for. Social Security Scotland has already been a shining success story of the SNP government—a system treating people with respect and dignity. But with a Tory Government ripping up our welfare protections and human rights, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, and we must explore what more we can do, while pushing for the full powers of independence.

27. People with energy limiting conditions (Fatigue Illnesses) experience high levels of social isolation, stigma, lack of representation and frequently have mental health problems. Everyone recognises the benefits of social interaction and getting out into our amazing Scottish countryside, however Health boards will only provide manually propelled wheelchairs for people with these conditions, the mobility component of PIP or ADP can only be used to get a car or a disability scooter, both of which have limitations in enabling energy limited people from benefiting from access to both social interaction and our Scottish countryside. What will you do in government to improve the social interaction and access to our Scottish countryside to improve the mental health of people with energy limiting conditions?

Ash Regan: There is some incredible work being done in the social sector to make this critical outdoor access available and accessible. We must engage with them and learn how government can best support these initiatives to make them available to all who need them as the benefits are profound.

Humza Yousaf: Thank you for raising this. It is information such as this which is vital to feed back into the Government. That is why I want to reinstate the travelling Cabinet to get the Government to the people so we can hear first hand about how we can improve their quality of life and make real changes. I would look to raise this with my new Health and Social Care Secretary to review the existing hurdles in place which limit the quality of life for people with energy limiting conditions.

28. Will you commit to create a Disability Commission to review all the actions of all spheres of government in Scotland and government legislation to ensure that it doesn’t inadvertently or otherwise disadvantage any disabled people and suggest amendments as necessary? 

Ash Regan: An Inequalities Commission must tackle the outcomes of all sources of inequalities and spheres of government in Scotland and government legislation must have a seam of accessibility and tackling inequalities running through them.

Humza Yousaf: In principle I would be happy to explore this, as I can certainly see the benefit.

29. What will you do to ensure that training and provision of mental health first aid is given equal status as physical first aid in Scotland and that there is the same workplace requirements for mental health first aiders as there are for physical first aiders?

Ash Regan: There are huge challenges in mental health and we must look to what our best solutions are in this often complex area.

Humza Yousaf: I would be very supportive of efforts to bring parity between mental health and physical first aid training. Under current reserved employment legislation, employers have a general duty of care to their employees, which extends to both physical and mental health.  Mental Health First Aid training is one way we can equip people with the tools and knowledge needed to support their colleagues when mental health challenges arise.

Although employment law remains reserved to Westminster, I will commit to exploring what can be done within the devolved competency to increase the number of mental health first aiders in Scotland, while seeking to push the UK Government to devolve employment law to Scotland so we can protect all our workers against a Tory Government attacking workers’ rights.

30. Will you commit to begin the process  of ensuring all young Scots learn BSL from Primary School age onwards to ensure that Scotland’s D/deaf community can communicate with everyone in their own language and so that those who are effected by age related deafness have another language to fall back on later in life?

Ash Regan: Communication is critical in education as it is in life. Our educators must have the resources to fulfil the commitment in the languages 1+ 2 programs and include BSL, recently recognised in law as an official language. 

Humza Yousaf: I think this is a positive idea – much like the teaching of Makaton in primary schools. I would want to see BSL included in the primary and secondary school curriculum.