Chamber and committees

I wonder whether the proposed right to recovery bill will seek the devolution of drug policies, so that we can have the powers that we really need in this country if we are to do more to tackle the issue.

Does the member agree that the respiratory care action plan that is being implemented right now by the Scottish Government includes long Covid?

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate, and I congratulate Rachael Hamilton on securing it. She has highlighted the fact that so much good work is being done.

I also congratulate GreenTweed Eco on bringing together this year’s great Borders river clean, which took place from 15 to 16 May and was supported by the Fallago environment fund. As part of that important work, 460 volunteers took the time to clean up the River Tweed. I congratulate the Tweed Forum on the important role that it plays in helping to educate people on the River Tweed’s importance for biodiversity and the role that it plays in tackling the climate emergency.

The work of the volunteers led to more than 3,000kg of rubbish being removed from the Tweed, which is remarkable, considering that most of the heavy items, such as car tyres and scrap metal, are still under several feet of water. The amount of waste recorded was a real testament to the determination of all involved to remove as much rubbish as possible from the river banks. Rachael Hamilton mentioned some of the interesting finds, which included major car parts, an intact fishing rod and a broken kayak, as well as the usual detritus of our modern lives, such as bottles, plastic toys, clothing and hundreds of thousands of wet wipes. The river clean demonstrates what communities can achieve when they come together in a good cause, and I again congratulate everyone involved.

A lot of work is also being done by hard-working volunteers across Dumfries and Galloway in the west of my South Scotland region to clean our rivers and coasts. One example is the work of the Galloway Fisheries Trust, which is working to ensure that we have clean riparian habitats and management. Riparian management can bring important benefits to the surrounding catchment. Watercourses can be damaged by overgrazing livestock, overshading bankside trees or the presence of alien plant species. The Galloway Fisheries Trust has completed various improvement works, including the installation of bankside fencing, the organising of controlled grazing agreements and extensive spraying of Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and skunk cabbage, as well as the removal of riparian coniferous forestry and the planting of deciduous trees in the riverbank zone. All that work has led to a reduced acidity level in Galloway rivers, such as the River Bladnoch near Wigtown, the Water of Dee near Castle Douglas and the Old Mill Burn near Newbie, which is close to Annan.

In addition to the important work of the Galloway Fisheries Trust, the Solway Firth Partnership has been working extremely hard to tackle marine litter by organising beach and water cleans by volunteers throughout the region. Marine litter is human-created waste that has been deliberately discarded, accidentally lost or transported by winds and rivers to the sea and the beaches. As well as being unsightly, marine litter can be dangerous, causing harm to public health and injury to our marine and coastal wildlife, our birds and other sea life.

The D&G Eco Warriors group is worth a mention. It has been working to address coastal littering. I was pleased to join its members in 2019, and I hope to do so again. We found a few nurdles on the beach near Kirkcudbright.

The Solway Firth Partnership and D&G Eco Warriors are particularly concerned about the impact of fly-tipped waste, which I have previously highlighted. I ask the minister to tell us in her closing speech what action the Scottish Government is taking to assist local authorities with education on fly-tipping and enforcement action against those who commit fly-tipping offences, especially when such offences are committed in coastal areas, where they can present a real threat.

The River Tweed is described by our own Alasdair Allan in his book “Tweed rins tae the Ocean”. I am sure that the Borders river clean has helped greatly to maintain its appeal for walkers and visitors to enjoy. I remind everybody that all the money raised by Alasdair Allan’s book will go to charity.

I welcome the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which will allow people to meet up in greater numbers. However, more people indoors means a greater risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus. That can be mitigated by good ventilation, as the First Minister has described, by introducing CO2 monitoring in schools and even by high-efficiency particulate absorbing air filtration for virus that is aerosolised. Can the First Minister expand on the introduction of CO2 monitoring and on whether further support with ventilation or HEPA filtration for public, third sector or business places is being considered?

I would also like to offer my condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives.

The Scottish Government has rightly identified tackling drug-related stigma as a priority in our national mission of reducing drug deaths and harm. Therefore, can the minister outline what education is being provided or is intended to be provided to healthcare professionals who do not work directly in drug and alcohol services, such as hospital and community staff, as well as to the wider public, to tackle drug-related stigma?

Like Rona Mackay and Christine Grahame, I agree that this is an important issue. Has the Scottish Government assessed whether the divergence from Covid-19 restrictions in England, with the approach of the dangerously named “freedom day” on 19 July there, will create confusion about the Scottish Covid-19 rules and, therefore, barriers to their enforcement? Can the First Minister reaffirm that action will be taken to ensure that people in Scotland and those visiting from other parts of the UK, including to my South Scotland region, are aware of Scotland’s more responsible approach to easing Covid-19 restrictions?

What action is the Scottish Government taking in response to high numbers of people not attending their appointments at Covid-19 vaccination clinics? Is the Government exploring innovative ways, such as text messaging, for vaccination team staff to contact people about vaccination, which could help to ensure attendance?

I remind members that I am a member of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s vaccination team.

There are many reasons why women might be reluctant to attend their screening test. Those range from difficulties in attending or being examined due to physical disability to cultural and language barriers, lack of awareness and uneasiness. What action is the Scottish Government taking to break down those barriers and help more women attend their appointment when called?

I welcome the First Minister’s announcement yesterday regarding changes to the guidance on weddings, which are key to the hospitality sector. I have been contacted by wedding venues in the south of Scotland that have asked whether a specific route map out of Covid-19 can be created for the sector that takes account of the diverse nature of weddings and wedding venues. Will the minister consider that? If it is possible, will he outline a potential timeframe for its establishment?

I remain a registered nurse and am a member of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s vaccination team. I will continue to be available as and if required to support further Covid vaccinations in the upcoming months, and I will update my entry in the register of interests as necessary to declare any income that is derived when that occurs.