Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government publish an annual report of headline indicators of health inequalities.

Results from the fifth annual update, published in October 2012 show a narrowing in relation to low birth weight rates and a narrowing in the rates of death from coronary heart disease.

Legal highs or Novel/New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) as they are also known, are substances which produce similar effects to illegal drugs, but that are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Some NPS substances have been found to contain drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is reserved to the UK Government. In response to the availability of NPS, the Home Office introduced a new temporary class drug order (15 November 2011). See Home office website:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-law/temporary-class-drug-orders/.

There is no other definitive legislation outwith the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and temporary class drug order that uniquely deals with the supply of NPS. However, police in Scotland together with partners are exploring other legislative options, such as trading standards powers.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the Home Office and the police in Scotland to understand more about the use and supply of these substances and options to tackle their supply.

The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities is a short life working group set up to address inequalities in health which prevent Scotland and its people reaching their full potential. Since May 2007 the Task Force has convened on three occasions; in 2007, 2010 and 2012. To date, the group has held a total of 12 meetings.

In 2007-08, the Task Force met on the following dates:

The report of the Task Force Equally Well, was published in June 2008.

In response to a recommendation in Equally Well that the Task Force should be reconvened in 2010 to review progress against its recommendations, three meetings were held on the following dates:

The review to Equally Well was published in June 2010.

Following the 2010 Review, the Task Force has again been reconvened and the first meeting took place on 29 November 2012. It is expected to report in the summer of 2013.

Legal highs or Novel/New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) as they are also known, are substances which produce similar effects to illegal drugs, but that are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The Scottish Government takes the issue of drugs and the damage caused to communities and individuals extremely seriously and is committed to tackling the problem. The police in Scotland are committed to gathering, collating and analysing all intelligence relating to the production, trafficking and sale of drugs in Scotland, including NPS.

There is no other definitive legislation outwith the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and temporary class drug order that uniquely deals with the supply of NPS. However, police in Scotland together with partners are exploring other legislative options, such as trading standards powers.

The Scottish Government continues to share information and analysis on NPS and emerging trends, with partners in Scotland and at the UK level, including the Home Office, forensic early warning system. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the Home Office and the police in Scotland to understand more about the use and supply of the substances and options to tackle their supply.

The Scottish Government is also working to ensure that information on the dangers of these harmful substances is available across Scotland. The Know the Score website and helpline, offering advice on drugs and their risks was updated to include information on NPS. The Choices for Life website for young people, part of the substance misuse education programme for Scottish schoolchildren funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, also contains information and advice on these substances.

The need to improve single outcome agreements (SOAs) was identified by the joint Scottish Government and COSLA review of community planning and SOAs last year. Addressing this is a key element of action being taken forward to implement the conclusions of that review as set out in the Scottish Government and COSLA Statement of Ambition published on 15 March 2012, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CP/soa.

The aims of the review included identifying actions to secure that SOAs demonstrate the local response to the Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services and the objectives of the public services reform programme, in particular through a focus on integration and prevention.

The actions to implement the review’s conclusions include the Scottish Government and COSLA having agreed new guidance to community planning partnerships on the scope and content of SOAs, which was published on 4 December 2012 and can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CP/SOA2012/SOA2012.

The guidance reflects the approach agreed by the National Community Planning Group that was set up following the review. It includes a requirement for SOAs to have a sharp focus on six key priorities, including health inequalities; to include plans on prevention and on local integration and partnership; and to use an evidence-based approach with clear performance commitments. The six key priorities are all important in tackling inequalities, and the new SOAs are to have a clear strategic focus on how for each priority local inequalities of outcome will be reduced. CPPs have been asked to submit drafts of new SOAs that reflect the guidance to the Scottish Government by 1 April 2013 for final agreement by 28 June 2013.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is responsible for developing, reviewing and updating evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. Guidelines are generally considered for review by SIGN every three years.

The Scottish Government continues to take national action to support early, accurate diagnosis and help services in taking a holistic approach to managing people with dementia, and enabling self-management, including through the development of a HEAT target from 2013 guaranteeing at least a year’s worth of post-diagnostic support, coordinated an an appropriately trained link worker.

From May 2007 the Scottish government has spent around £96K with supported businesses. Two contracts remain in force (laundry services and signage) with the possibility of further spend.

The Scottish Government launched a reserved framework agreement for supported businesses in September 2012. The framework is designed to cover a broad range of goods and services that Scotland’s supported businesses can provide. As at 16 January 2013, 18 contracts have been placed by 14 public bodies with seven supported businesses. The total spent so far against these contracts is £72K.

The Scottish Government is committed to a consistent, person centred approach to supporting disabled people who want to work. We recognise that supported businesses in Scotland make a significant contribution to this in Scotland, both as a stepping stone towards mainstream employment and for those who feel unable to progress.

Ongoing viability of these businesses is key and since 2007, the Scottish Government has undertaken a range of actions to support all Scotland’s supported businesses. These include:

• The Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, launched in October 2009, advises Scottish public bodies that they should aim to have a strategy for awarding at least one contract with a Supported Business or Factory. The plan also encourages buyers to consider community benefit clauses that may be included in contracts.

• A number of events have been held to inform public sector buyers about procurement using Article 19, and the development of a brochure for buyers setting out the goods and services available through Scotland’s supported businesses. An updated brochure is currently in production.

• The establishment of a new reserved framework for supported businesses.

Remploy have worked closely with the Scottish Government in promotion activity throughout this time and are part of the reserved framework.

A Procurement Reform Bill will be introduced during the lifetime of this Parliament. The consultation on the Bill included questions regarding additional actions to promote greater use of supported businesses by the public sector.

Since the announcement in March of 2012 that Remploy would lose all Department for Work and Pensions funding by 2014, I have chaired a Stakeholder Group to consider what actions can be taken to support the continuation of jobs for Remploy staff, either within businesses undertaking the work previously done by the Remploy factories, or in new employment.

Responsibility for updating SIGN guideline 74 lies with Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).