Chamber and committees

So will we hear more on that?

Thank you, Presiding Officer.

I agree with the convener of the Criminal Justice Committee that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 has failed. However, although that legislation is in place throughout the UK, in Scotland, we have a significantly higher drug deaths rate than the rates in the rest of the nations of the UK. Clearly, that is just one factor, and many other factors drive the very significant problems that we have in Scotland.

The system currently fails those who are seeking support with drug addiction, and the high levels of drug deaths in Scotland clearly highlight that failure. In total, 1,330 people lost their lives to drugs misuse in Scotland in 2021, which was the second highest annual total on record. We have a consistent problem with the worst death rates in Europe, and areas such as the west of Scotland have some of the worst statistics in the country.

In North Ayrshire, 39 deaths were recorded—the highest number in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area. The minister has already spoken about the facility that has opened recently in Saltcoats. North Ayrshire has the fourth highest level of drug deaths in the country, but, when we look at some of the other economic drivers in North Ayrshire, unfortunately, the area often has some of the worst statistics, such as higher levels of domestic abuse, poor levels of employability and high levels of poverty and deprivation, and many of the other economic drivers highlight the lack of opportunity and hope.

I welcome the debate and the Government’s focus on stigma in its motion. As the minister knows, the creation of a national stigma action plan is one of 20 recommendations in the task force report, along with 139 actions, and the task force argues the importance of stigma as an underlying component in the drug deaths crisis.

Scotland consistently has the worst drug deaths figures in Europe. There are many reasons for that and, as Willie Coffey has just said, the lack of hope and opportunities in communities is clearly a major factor. In the last year that we have figures for, there were 14,310 drug-related hospital stays, and approximately half the patients with a drug-related hospital stay came from the most deprived areas of Scotland. The Labour amendment recognises the need for

“policies that address poverty, deprivation and Scotland’s wider health inequalities”

as part of the strategy to address the issues.

I appreciate that you are speaking for COSLA and that, because we do not have any detail, it is very difficult for you to respond. If the model was a commissioning model and if responsibility was taken away from local government, such that local authorities would have to enter into a tendering exercise, could there be a risk that local government, or at least some councils, might not get involved in that?

That is helpful.

I ask COSLA to comment on what is being said about consistency. What does COSLA view as the major challenges? Are they resources and funding, or are there other issues? To what extent are there discussions in councils about how to proceed if the proposals, as we understand they are likely to operate, go ahead? What does that mean for the future of local government involvement in such services?

I appreciate your points about tendering, and Unison has a huge amount of experience of outsourcing and tendering processes that have not been positive with regard to terms and conditions.

Lynsey Smith made a point about consistency of service. Do you have any thoughts on whether there is an inconsistent service across Scotland? Is that a major concern? If so, how that might be addressed?

I have another question for Lynsey Smith. In your contribution, you said that your view was that the status quo could not continue. Our understanding of how the national care service will work is that, unlike the national health service, it will not actually provide a service or employ any staff. A lot of us who campaigned for a national care service were campaigning for a body that would provide a service, which would employ staff directly and provide a high quality of service. Our understanding of how the national care service will work is that it will commission services and, effectively, put out tenders.

I will ask COSLA about this in a minute, but I have been told by people in local government that it is unlikely that many councils will participate in the process, because of their own financial situations. When you say that the status quo cannot continue, what are your reasons for saying that? Is the top reason the funding?

I have a question about body-worn cameras for the police. Police Scotland has told us that funding would ensure only 500 body-worn cameras, that specialist police arms officers in Scotland would have them and that a flat rate settlement would inhibit their roll-out.

As the cabinet secretary knows, in England and Wales, police officers already have that kit—and, indeed, are moving on to the second generation. Will you outline where you are on that issue, what discussions are taking place and whether you are looking at something beyond 500 and ensuring that the whole force is equipped?

I have a brief question on the capital budgets and the modernisation of the prison service. We have heard some evidence that, to put it crudely, newer prisons are cheaper than older prisons. Have you considered that? Is there a business case for capital investment in that it will help budgets in the future?

But is that the top problem at the moment—a lack of funding or resource?