Part of Finance and Local Government – in the Scottish Parliament at on 3 September 2025.
Willie Rennie
Liberal Democrat
Mental health issues, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism contribute to a significant proportion of cases among the 20-odd per cent of the working-age population who are economically inactive, but the national health service does not seem to have an effective pathway for ADHD and autism, and the waits for mental health services are incredibly long.
What discussions is the Minister having with the health department to ensure that we can get the system ready in order that we can get those people back to work so that they can make an economic contribution to the country?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
