MSPs have voted for the Scottish Government to introduce a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill to the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Government formally dropped plans for an LDAN Bill in September 2026 – a decision which disappointed charities including Scottish Autism, National Autistic Society Scotland and the Donaldson Trust, who had been in support of legislation.
Earlier this month, Scottish Labour MSP Joe Long brought together MSPs from across the political spectrum and eight national charities and Disabled Persons Organisations, who wrote to Minister Maree Todd to raise concerns about the Bill being dropped.
Long, who is Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Community Care and Mental Wellbeing, stressed that while the Scottish Government must outline how it will meet the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities with urgency, this should not preclude putting a strategic focus on these communities’ needs into legislation.
The LDAN Bill was promised by the Scottish Government in 2021, with proposals aimed at protecting rights, strengthening accountability, and improving outcomes and experiences across health, education, employment, and wider public services for neurodivergent people and people with learning disabilities.
However, the Scottish Government said it would no longer proceed with the Bill, citing a preference to focus on service improvements and targeted investments, instead of legislation.
Long, who was a director at Scottish Autism before entering politics, has continued to engage with political colleagues, charities, and other organisations, following the decision.
During a debate at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, October 28, MSPs voted for a Liberal Democrat motion which called on the Scottish Government to introduce an LDAN Bill to the Parliament.
MSPs also voted for an amendment by Joe Long, which sought to recognise the time and expertise contributed by people with lived experience, and to make clear that urgent action is required to meet the needs of those communities.
Speaking following the vote, Joe Long MSP, left, said: “I am pleased that MSPs from across the chamber have voted for the LDAN Bill to be brought before the Scottish Parliament.
“People with lived experience, professionals, and charities contributed to the development of this Bill over the course of five years. These people shared their stories, their expertise and, in many cases, recounted traumatic experiences because they had been promised legislation to meet their needs after decades of failure.
“The Scottish Government’s decision to ditch the Bill last month left many Scots who are neurodivergent or have learning disabilities feeling betrayed.
“At the heart of this are the families who are struggling to get the appropriate support they need for autistic children or children with ADHD, while neurodivergent adults often face barriers to accessing public services, employment, or securing the support they need.
“These communities have waited far too long for change, and more must be done to fulfil their human rights and meet their needs.
“Today is a significant moment. The Scottish Government must respect the will of MSPs and ensure they now bring forward an LDAN Bill which can bring about the meaningful change that these communities deserve.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Liberal Democrats helped to successfully persuade Parliament to vote for bringing back the law to protect people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence, after the SNP government abandoned promised legislation last month.
In September, John Swinney scrapped the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill.
The legislation had been an SNP manifesto promise, and it was included in their Programme for Government for 2021-22.
The bill would have created greater accountability by imposing stronger duties on public bodies, improving data collection and advocacy support. It would have created a dedicated statutory framework, similar to the Autism Act in England, alongside mandatory training for key public sector staff, bringing Scotland in line with measures already adopted elsewhere in the UK.
The bill’s consultation generated almost 900 responses, with many people sharing traumatic stories about their own experiences.
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP, right, said: “Parliament could not be clearer: we needed to bring back this legislation.
“Many of those who responded to the previous consultation feel betrayed by the Scottish Government inviting them to share their stories and then going on to abandon them.
“This is not a black and white choice between legislation and policy. We need both. The government should be focused on investing in services and support, as well as legislating to ensure there is proper accountability.”
