Chamber and committees

Building capacity at the local level often presents a challenge as enterprises struggle to meet the scale that is required for larger contracts. Can the minister say more about how the Scottish Government is continuing to encourage and create opportunities for local procurement in a way that is achievable for local businesses, social enterprises and community groups?

The outline business case for reform talks about building on the best of what we have. Can the minister speak to the strong foundations of Scotland’s post-school education and skills system and about how simplifying the funding body landscape can unlock further potential in the sector?

No, I have just started.

The loss of a baby at any stage is tragic. It is a traumatic experience that can have a profound impact on families—going from the elation of being pregnant and the happiness that comes from planning to welcome another life into the world and to enhance your family, to suffering devastating heartache and disappointment.

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before viability, which is currently defined as 23 weeks and six days’ gestation. It may occur spontaneously or as a missed miscarriage, which may require medical or surgical management. It affects around 8 to 24 per cent of pregnancies, although it is difficult to obtain an accurate figure, because it can often occur before a woman knows that she is pregnant.

Throughout it all, the Scottish Government expects all women who are receiving maternity care to be treated with dignity and respect. We have made clear progress on maternity care in the past five years, and we are committed to progressing that further. In 2023, we launched a memorial book and certificate for those who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks.

Many hospitals already have separate spaces for women who suffer pregnancy or baby loss, and the Scottish Government will ensure that all major hospitals and NHS boards with maternity units do. It is a simple but humane and necessary measure to ease the pain of baby loss.

As has been mentioned by other speakers, breaking the silence and reducing the stigma and isolation associated with pregnancy loss and baby death are of the utmost importance. For too long—and certainly for my generation—it was an unspoken trauma, almost secretively guarded by families as they attempted to cope with their grief. People were often told by doctors, “At least it proves that you can get pregnant. Try again and everything will be fine.” Although that might be true, it gives no comfort to grieving parents at the time of such a tragic loss.

The Scottish Government believes that, by delivering good-quality, supportive and compassionate miscarriage and bereavement care, we can break the stigma and begin normalising conversations about miscarriage and stillbirth. Our Government-funded national bereavement care pathway for pregnancy and baby loss and accompanying care standards are clear that women and families who experience pregnancy or baby loss should be treated compassionately and that difficult news should be delivered in a quiet, private space.

We fully support taking forward the findings of the report by The Lancet and supporting the development of individualised care plans after a woman’s first miscarriage. That also includes ensuring that women’s services and health boards have dedicated facilities for women who are experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications. The SNP is also committed to emulating New Zealand, where families who experience miscarriage or stillbirth are entitled to three days of paid leave, by delivering that within the public sector.

As we have heard, the “Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland” ensures that work is improved and updated and that it will standardise and bring an end to the variation in the care and support that is delivered across Scotland for women and families who experience miscarriage and pregnancy loss. The framework will outline a plan for the introduction of a graded model of miscarriage care in Scotland. It has been developed by an expert short-life working group, which included representation from health professionals and third sector organisations.

In conclusion, there is an abundance of support organisations out there, such as Sands. Miscarriage matters, and I hope that grieving families will take comfort from knowing that they can get help to get through it.

That is a significant announcement and welcome news on the anniversary of the Promise. What does the Scottish Government hope and expect will be achieved through the £6 million increase in the whole family wellbeing fund that is being provided to children’s services planning partnerships? What improvements can we expect to see as a result of that funding increase from the Scottish National Party Scottish Government?

I thought that that was a very disappointing tone in Sue Webber’s contribution.

Today, we are debating an emotive and heartbreaking issue, which is sadly very common.

I am pleased to speak in this important debate, and I thank my colleague Elena Whitham for securing it. I congratulate her on her long-standing commitment to tackling the problem of alcohol and drug abuse and thank her for her customary informative and inspirational opening speech.

Alcohol abuse and addiction is a significant and pressing issue in the justice system in Scotland—indeed, the rate is disproportionately high. Almost two thirds—63 per cent—of people in prison have an alcohol use disorder, with almost half of those possibly dependent on alcohol. The risk of death from alcohol causes is three times higher for men who have been in prison and nine times higher for women who have been in prison than for the general population, as Elena Whitham articulated. All deaths due to alcohol are a tragedy but, as convener of the cross-party group on women, families and justice, that statistic really concerns me.

It is estimated that as many as 90 per cent of women in custody in Scotland have addiction problems, whether that involves alcohol or drugs. It is further estimated that 80 per cent of women in prison have brain damage due to head injuries that have been caused by domestic violence, and that a similar number suffer from mental illness to some degree. Whether those women should be in prison at all is for another debate, although I am certain that we should have that debate soon. I submit that prison is entirely the wrong place for women whose addiction and chaotic life experience have led them down the wrong path.

I am grateful to SHAAP for its research, which shows that, of the 12,000 people who had community payback orders imposed in 2021-22, only 1 per cent received alcohol treatment as part of their order. I know that there can be complex reasons for that but, on the face of it, we must do better. Forty per cent of prisoners reported that they were drunk at the time of their offence, and almost one fifth were worried that alcohol misuse would be a problem for them on their release. However, 41 per cent said that, if offered help for their alcohol use, inside or outside prison, they would take it.

In addition, people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is an entirely preventable condition, are overrepresented in the justice system. Turning Point Scotland, which is an excellent third sector organisation, delivers a range of harm reduction approaches in relation to problematic alcohol use across our services. It believes that its programme of harm reduction should be incorporated into the justice system to help identify and act on a risk of alcohol-related harm. Time does not allow me to detail the organisation’s initiatives, but it is well worth having a look at its excellent website.

To an extent, people coming into the justice system provide an opportunity to recognise and, crucially, address alcohol use disorders by offering treatment and support. Alcohol brief interventions, which Elena Whitham mentioned, are a good example of that approach, but that could be strengthened through more consistent delivery and by improving options for diversion to appropriate services.

It is abundantly clear that alcohol misuse disorders in the justice system are a significant problem that has been overlooked for too long. Our prisons are overcrowded, and hard-working prison staff are dealing with a multitude of problems. A targeted programme of support and of treatment for alcohol abuse—of course, that should include prevention in wider society, where Scotland’s drinking culture has been a long-standing problem—should be available to reduce the pressure on our justice system.

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government’s work to keep the Promise, in light of the fifth anniversary of it being made. (S6F-03794)

Good morning, Fiona, and thank you for your submission; I am pleased that you are very supportive of the bill. In your submission, you say that, in England,

“inquests provide a structured investigation into deaths.”

How would you compare what we are proposing with what they have in England?

That is helpful—thank you. In your first answer to the convener, you mentioned anonymity. Will you expand on that a wee bit, including on the importance of anonymity and what you mean by it?

Good morning. So far, we have talked a lot about resources and finance, and I understand the importance of that. That said, I would like to take issue, Katie, with what you said at the start about the equally safe fund being depleted and not serving local needs. Frankly, I just do not believe that. Some £19 million has been given out to local authorities to work on such needs and on the preventative strategies that you said were not happening. I am just going to take issue with the premise of that. We might argue about the amount of it, but I would say that that fund fits perfectly into what we are trying to do here.

So far, all that I have heard about are barriers to the bill. If we could just go back to the bill that is in front of us, I am unsure whether any of you support its introduction. If we take finances out of the picture for a moment, do you support the previous witness’s view that there has been a long-standing gap in Scotland? England has a system in which families and victims are served better and that is what we are trying to do here. If you could clarify whether you support the bill, I would appreciate it.