Chamber and committees

I have a quick question this time. People who use drugs may be subject to multiple stigmas, not just that related to their drug use. That can include stigma relating to homelessness, mental health and, for some, HIV status. How will the Government ensure that the multiple stigmas are tackled within systems used by people who use drugs, and not just in relation to their drug use and the stigma surrounding it?

I, personally, am still very much committed to working towards £15 an hour—[Interruption.] I am still committed to it—[Interruption.] Well—

I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. There is some evidence that the Valneva vaccine could be more effective than other vaccines against variants. What impact does the cabinet secretary think the UK Government’s decision could have on our ability to protect people against further mutations of the virus?

I, too, would like to extend our sincere thanks to our health and care workers who are working hard to keep us safe and well. They have been going at a superhuman pace throughout the pandemic, and I can only imagine how exhausted they must feel. It is only right that we take every opportunity to express our gratitude for and appreciation of everything that they do.

My amendment, which was not selected for debate, focused on mental health. We know that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on our collective mental health, but we have not all been equally affected. The most recent report from the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 mental health tracker study found that young adults, women, people with physical and/or mental conditions and people in a lower socioeconomic group are more likely to report experiencing poor mental health.

The Scottish Government’s mental health strategy was published in the time before Covid-19, and we have to recognise that circumstances have materially changed since then. That is why I welcome the Government’s commitment to publish a refreshed mental health strategy and a mental health workforce plan as part of its agreement with my party. It is, of course, vital that the refreshed strategy takes account of how some people have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. It must consider the social determinants of mental health if it is to effectively address the huge rise in mental distress that has been caused by the pandemic.

There must also be more of a focus on non-communicable diseases as we begin to emerge from the worst of the pandemic. Smoking and drinking rates among those who smoke and drink the most have increased over the pandemic. We need to prioritise good health for our nation, improving outcomes through reducing poverty, improving access to food and reducing the availability of health harming products. No company should be allowed to profit from damaging people’s health. We have the ability to make this the public health session of Parliament, and I hold on to the hope that we can work across parties to achieve that.

I want to focus on social care. The Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government are committed to ensuring that the national care service upholds the principles of fair work, which is why we have committed to a system of national collective bargaining on pay and terms and conditions within the social care sector so that we can build on all care staff receiving the living wage as a minimum while working towards a higher rate of pay.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is in discussions with the United Kingdom Government regarding its decision to terminate its supply agreement with Valneva for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001. (S6T-00151)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason it applied for designated status for the Scottish Parliament under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and whether it will publish the background paper upon which this decision was based.

I also have concerns about how the process has been conducted. The minutes of the SPCB’s meeting on 24 June note that the corporate body discussed the matter and highlight that concerns were raised by Maggie Chapman.

The minutes make no mention of consulting MSPs or the public. In fact, MSPs were not informed of the change until legislation had already been laid in the House of Commons. Does the member not accept that the controversy around the matter could have been avoided if the SPCB had adopted a more transparent approach, in line with the Scottish Parliament’s key principles of accountability and open participation?

We also want to better recognise the contribution of unpaid carers, without whom our social care system simply could not function. Almost two thirds of unpaid carers have been unable to take a break from their caring role since the start of the pandemic. Too often, unpaid carers become worn down and exhausted due to inadequate support and may even be forced to neglect their own health. That is why the Scottish Greens and the Government are committed to introducing a guarantee of short breaks and flexible healthcare appointments for unpaid carers. We will also ensure that care workers and unpaid carers can access bereavement services whenever they need to, so that they are not left unsupported at one of the times when they are in greatest need.

I will end my speech by focusing on the NHS recovery plan. I welcome its publication along with the acknowledgment that the pandemic has placed our NHS under severe pressure and that there is much more work to be done to help it to recover. However, I have concerns about workforce shortages undermining the plan’s ambitions, and I would like the cabinet secretary to reflect on that in his summing up.

Many people in Scotland participated in clinical trials of the Valneva vaccine, and the decision may understandably cause them anxiety about their vaccination status. Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the termination of the agreement will not impact the vaccination status of anyone who participated in the Valneva clinical trial?

Millions of children around the world have already been vaccinated, but the UK is significantly behind other countries in its roll-out to young people. As the First Minister outlined, cases are beginning to fall, but numbers are still far too high and it is vital that we vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds as quickly as possible. What action will the Scottish Government take to encourage take-up of the vaccine for that age group and how can we encourage looked-after children and, in particular, young carers to ensure that they get their vaccinations?