Chamber and committees

Michelle Campbell is absolutely right, particularly in relation to more vulnerable groups of people who may have other ongoing conditions and who might not recognise that they have diabetes. It is important that we look at that.

My next point is about early action—it is about saving lives. We know that, for diabetes, getting people diagnosed earlier is actually saving lives. It can also prevent serious complications that can cause problems for people’s quality of life and that put pressure on our national health service. So, it is important that we make sure that such early intervention can be made.

I also want to mention the issue of inequalities. The opening speaker mentioned it, and it is so important to our constituents. If we do not tackle health inequalities in general, we are not doing what we should be doing. For diabetes in particular, inequality in diagnosis and treatment means that people’s opportunities to access diabetes care are taken away. We must tackle the inequalities that come with the condition.

We have made extraordinary advances in diabetes care. There are monitors, insulin pumps and hybrid closed-loop technologies. Even though I worked in that area in the past, I will not pretend that I understand it all now. I am so pleased that we have made those advances, but everybody should be able to access such facilities. Again, recognising such inequality is really important.

The helpful thing about a debate like this is that we get a chance to speak to the minister and the minister can then respond. It would be good to know what we are doing in Scotland to raise public awareness of the symptoms of diabetes and to make sure that that inequality is tackled.

Some of the advances we need to make will be to ensure that everybody has access. If world diabetes day is about anything, it should serve as a reminder of the work that we still have to do to ensure that people get the healthcare that they need.

17:35

I thank Colm Merrick for securing this important debate and Paul McLennan for sharing his story.

I am pleased to contribute on behalf of the Labour Party to marking world diabetes day 2026, and I recognise this year’s theme of early action on diabetes. If members do not mind my doing so, I also want to mention a former colleague, Emma Harper. Emma was extremely generous in sharing her experiences and expertise—I debated with her many times on the issue of diabetes. Her input on this subject is sadly missed.

As other members have said, diabetes is one of the most significant and growing health challenges that Scotland faces. Members might know that I worked in that area many years ago. Sometimes, I can be saddened by the advances that we have not made, which make me realise that there is still more work to do. That is why debates such as this one are really important.

The numbers are high: 380,000 people live with a diagnosis of diabetes, and that number continues to rise. We suspect that many people are living with the condition but do not know it. I hope that they do not ignore the symptoms, and I encourage them to come forward.

Of course.

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any environmental impact of artificial intelligence data centres in other countries. (S7O-00428)

The cabinet secretary will be aware of the on-going concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence data centres in Ireland. Data centres accounted for almost a quarter of Ireland’s energy use last year. The Irish Climate Change Advisory Council has warned that the growth in data centres’ energy demand is threatening Ireland’s ability to meet its climate change commitments. Will the cabinet secretary ensure that climate action is central to any planning or decisions that we make in relation to AI data centres, particularly considering the experience around energy commitments?

I welcome today’s announcement and the Government’s recognition of the unfair approach to council tax debt collection. Public debt intensifies and sustains poverty, and the Deputy First Minister has rightly recognised the need for a fairer council tax system for women in particular.

Given the inconsistencies across local government in the way in which debt is collected, does the Deputy First Minister recognise—I think that she does—that primary legislation might be required to adequately reform public debt recovery processes across Scotland to ensure that we do not trap indebted women and families in a cycle of poverty? That legislation might need to be separate from the legislation that she spoke about in her statement.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.

I appreciate where the member is going with his speech, because I also believe that it is particularly important that we take working-class communities with us. However, I would refer him to some of the citizens jury work, which shows that deprived communities recognise that being able to access alcohol very easily and readily is a problem. Some of that work is worth looking at.

The member referred to evidence about safe consumption rooms. While I was at a project in Auchinleck that the member will be familiar with, we discussed whether there is any evidence from rural settings around the world. Has the member read anything about that?

The minister knows that I am very interested in alcohol services and treatment. Do we have a clear picture right across Scotland, particularly in rural areas, of the need for services?