Chamber and committees

Thank you, Dr Witcher, and apologies for misrepresenting the capacity in which you are appearing. That was my fault—I was going by the briefing that I had. We acknowledge that you are here in your personal capacity.

That is great. Thank you. We will now move to questions.

Some of the concerns that are raised in the written submissions by Dr Witcher and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland in relation to clinically vulnerable people. I think that it is concerning that, after what we have all faced over the past two years, the clinically vulnerable groups, who have valid fears of Covid infection now feel that they could be faced with hostility from the general public in some places. I was alarmed by what I read about that.

Dr Witcher, in your view, what would an inclusive new normal look like?

I totally agree. As you said, for the past two years or so, there has been no guidebook anywhere across the world on how to deal with the pandemic or how we emerge into the new normal. It is interesting that you mention Belgium, because I think that we can learn a lot from how countries across the world are dealing with issues and emerging from Covid. As I said, there is no guidebook and there are lots of lessons to be learned. Are there any other countries that you feel are a bit more progressive that we could learn from and that are getting it right as they emerge from Covid?

Thank you—that is really helpful. We move to questions from Murdo Fraser.

I think that all members would agree that the meeting has been really insightful and informative. I thank all the witnesses for their evidence and for giving us their time. If you would like to raise any further evidence with the committee, you can do so in writing; the clerks will be happy to liaise with you about how to do that.

At our next meeting, which will be on 30 June, we will take evidence from the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport on the inquiry into Covid-19 and the communication of public health information. We will also consider a negative instrument.

That concludes the public part of the meeting.

That is really interesting. I will open up the discussion and ask the other witnesses for their views on how the needs of high-risk individuals can be better communicated to the general public as we go on to the next stage of Covid.

What discussions have taken place with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scotland of its ideological dispute?

The dispute between the United Kingdom Government’s Network Rail and RMT is having an enormous impact on Scotland, and the Tories are clearly continuing the dispute for political and ideological purposes. Mick Hogg recently told “The Nine”:

“Perhaps the UK Government should take a feather out of the Scottish Government’s hat and ... propose 5 per cent, along with a five-year no compulsory redundancy agreement”.

In Scotland, we recognise the valuable role that trade unions play in our industrial relations, but it is clear that the Tories would use the dispute to weaken the role of the unions.

As the Scottish Government begins setting out the progressive, hopeful vision for a wealthier, happier, fairer Scotland in the European family of nations, the UK Government instead continues to drag the devolved countries through a regressive and damaging Brexit, epitomised by the disastrous proposal of the so-called Brexit freedoms bill. Does the cabinet secretary believe that, now more than ever, the people of Scotland must be given the democratic choice for which they have repeatedly voted: a referendum on independence and a decision on Scotland’s future?

I thank the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for its inquiry and for bringing the debate to the chamber today.

As my colleagues in the COVID-19 Recovery Committee will agree, the pandemic has had a massive effect across all areas of public life, and as we heard in committee, children and young people’s health and wellbeing are no exception.

On Monday, with many other parents, I attended my youngest daughter’s first sports day. I am pleased to report that she came first in the egg and spoon race. Needless to say, she does not take her sporting abilities from me. My eldest had her school leaving prom last week; I cannot tell you how lovely it was to attend both events and to see some sense of normality returning for our kids. My point in bringing that up is that small events in a person’s life contribute massively to their wellbeing. Being surrounded by friends and family and celebrating together is, unfortunately, something that our young people have, largely, missed out on for the past two years.

During the pandemic, we asked Scotland’s young people to do what none of us had to do at their age: we asked them to give up all sense of normality. We asked them to stay inside, to stay away from their friends, and to do their school work from home. That it was necessary at the time did not make it any easier. We should all say a big “Thank you” to our young people for the sacrifices that they made for the greater good. Our children are our future.

I welcome the committee’s recommendation that

“the long-term impact of the pandemic remains a key consideration in the future design and development of mental health services and support for children and young people.”

It has never been more important to look after our mental health, so I welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is providing record investment to improve the nation’s wellbeing and our mental health services. The Scottish Government’s mental health transition and recovery plan investment of £120 million is the single largest investment in mental health in the history of devolution.

I also welcome mention in the committee’s report of healthy eating and obesity and, more specifically, of the link between poverty and poor diet. I do not think that we should beat around the bush: childhood obesity is too high and we need to do more to combat it. I welcome that Scotland is leading the way to expand access to free school meals, so that more children can feel the benefits of nutritious cooked meals during the week.

When I last visited South Ayrshire Foodbank, volunteers told me that some people who are using the service need a bit more information on healthy eating and cooking. We could look at improving aspects of home economics education in our schools to counteract that.

We all know the impact that living in poverty can have on the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s most vulnerable people, so tackling poverty is one of the Scottish Government’s priorities. Despite the rapidly rising living costs under the Tories’ watch, the UK Government ploughed ahead with the cruel £20 cut a week to universal credit, which has financially impacted on more than 60,000 families, including their children, in Scotland. That comes on top of a decade of enforced Tory austerity, changes to the benefits system and—as we are all aware—a rapid increase in use of food banks.

“Best Start, Bright Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-2026”, sets out the Scottish Government’s bold action to drive progress on tackling child poverty. A recent Child Poverty Action Group report shows that the cost of bringing up a child in Scotland will be lowered by 31 per cent—equivalent to £24,000—once the Scottish child payment is doubled and the expansion of free school meals is delivered.