Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government takes a different approach to the UK Government in implementing a public health approach to drug use. This is in line with recommendations of the Scottish Affairs Committee [1] , the Westminster Health and Social Care Committee [2] as well as a significant number of other experts and academics. The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh [3] and the Drug Deaths Taskforce [4] have both released reports in Scotland this year alone calling for a strengthened public health approach to drug use.

In contrast, the priority of Project Adder remains enforcement led. A review of international evidence [5] shows that major policing crackdowns and enforcement operations tend to increase harms to people who use drugs. For example, research from a number of countries has shown that crackdowns are more likely to move drug dealing and usage geographically than to reduce them, increasing crime and discouraging people from carrying clean injecting equipment.

I do welcome those elements of Project ADDER that focus on diversion and recovery, but these are areas that Scotland is already prioritising through our National Mission, having allocated £250 million to improving and saving lives over the course of this Parliament. Work on diversion and recovery is well underway in Scotland and will align with the Project ADDER activity in England and Wales.

Where Adder can add value to the work already underway in Scotland is in the sharing of evidence, helping us to understand what activity can be effective in addressing drug related harms and deaths. To this end our Drug Deaths Taskforce have been engaging as active members of the Project ADDER Partnership Learning Network, sharing lessons learned between Scotland and the targeted ADDER areas.

[1] Scottish Affairs Committee: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201919/cmselect/cmscotaf/44/44.pdf

[2] Health and Social Care Committee: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201919/cmselect/cmhealth/143/143.pdf

[3] The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/drugs_deaths_in_scotland_report_final_0.pdf

[4] Drug Deaths Taskforce: https://drugdeathstaskforce.scot/media/1248/drug-law-reform-report-sept-6th-21.pdf

[5] Scottish Government: https://www.gov.scot/publications/international-approaches-drug-law-reform/documents/

The purpose of the alcohol licensing system is to support the regulation of the sale of alcohol with the objectives of preventing crime and disorder; securing public safety; preventing public nuisance; protecting and improving public health; and protecting children and young people from harm. It is for independent licensing boards to administer the licensing regime at a local level with reference to these five licensing objectives.

Under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, each independent licensing board is required to publish licensing policy statements. Such statements allow for interested parties to understand better how each licensing board will operate in line with these five overarching licensing objectives. The introduction within the 2005 Act of a public health objective ensures licensing boards can take into account the importance of protecting and improving public health when considering and determining licensing matters brought before the Board. How the public health objective is to be achieved within each licensing board area as one of the five licensing objectives is a matter for each independent licensing board, but licensing policy statements should reflect the approach to be taken.

The Scottish Government has also taken forward a range of legislative measures such as, amongst others, placing restrictions on drink promotions, requiring the operation of an age verification policy and giving the police powers to disrupt drinking dens to help reduce alcohol harm.

In terms of the affordability of alcohol, minimum unit pricing (MUP) was introduced on 1 May 2018 at 50 pence per unit of alcohol and is subject to a comprehensive, independent evaluation, led by Public Health Scotland (PHS). Various reports on the impact of MUP are published on the PHS website, with a final report due in November 2023.

The Scottish Government has not been involved in any discussions regarding the development of an Edinburgh specific rate of pay.

Employment law remains reserved to the UK Government therefore, the Scottish Government cannot currently legislate on this matter. We continue to promote payment of at least the real Living Wage and welcome the increase to £9.90 per hour for workers over 18 announced on 15 November.

I was pleased to note that City of Edinburgh Council has achieved Living Wage City recognition and is promoting payment of the real Living Wage in the region.

Under current legal aid provision, BSL interpreting costs can be paid as an outlay where legal aid or advice and assistance is in place. When a person requires such support to access legal services, the Legal Aid Fund will meet these costs. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is currently undertaking a consultation on its approach to accounts assessment, within which it has proposed to continue to assess BSL interpreting as part of its general outlays policy.

The Scottish Legal Aid Board has also promoted the availability of ContactScotland BSL service to solicitors. This Scottish Government funded service, has expanded to allow BSL signers across the country to make phone calls in their first or preferred language. It is a VRS (virtual relay service) for making phone calls, or conversation where both parties are not in the same place. It is available 24 hours a day throughout the year.

The Scottish Government has established a British Sign Language Justice Advisory Group, as part of its BSL National Plan 2017-2023. The role of this BSL-led justice advisory group is to provide expertise and guidance to justice agencies. The Group is to play a key role in developing and delivering a programme of improvements to help the justice agencies better meet the needs of BSL users.

Local authorities will be informed of their allocations once COSLA Leaders have considered and agreed the methodology for distribution on 26 November. It is proposed that funding is allocated through a redetermination to General Revenue Grant with payments in the final two weeks of the current financial year which is standard practice for additional in-year funding for local authorities. All General Revenue Grant funding requires the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

To date 251 businesses have been successful and 49 unsuccessful in receiving funding contributing to peatland restoration through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme.

Each Health Board requires staff to undertake mandatory training to help them understand the Board’s policy on equality, diversity and human rights, and what it means for them in terms of both their rights and any associated responsibilities.

The Scottish Government is exploring how to best deliver a more robust and up-to-date learning on equality, diversity and inclusion based on engagement with those with relevant experience and expertise.

The Scottish Government also fully supports all staff diversity networks and is developing an online platform to help networks across Scotland to share information and resources. We have established a staff led National NHS Ethnic Minority Forum that aims to amplify the voices of ethnic minority staff across the health service and tackle issues of systemic racism.

East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnerships have all made progress in reducing delayed discharges but numbers remain high in Edinburgh, given the specific challenges in the city. The four Health and Social Care Partnerships across Lothian have been allocated £18.535m of additional winter funding to provide interim care, enhance care at home, and develop multi-disciplinary teams. The Scottish Government is meeting weekly with the Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, the Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and the Chief Officer of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership to closely monitor progress.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy has responsibility for Ferguson Marine and the vessels under construction there. I am aware that the Cabinet Secretary currently meets with the yards management on a fortnightly basis to discuss progress, as well as receiving detailed monthly reports.

I currently have no plans to meet with the senior management team at Ferguson Marine in the near future, however I maintain an active interest in the progress at the yard and receive regular reports as a matter of course.

The Scottish Government has proposed a methodology to the Settlement and Distribution Group which was considered on 17 November. A recommendation has been made to COSLA Leaders for adoption when they next meet on 26 November.