Stuart McMillan
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Can the cabinet secretary provide any details about when funding will be in place to replace the Port Glasgow health centre with a new health hub? Can she advise when there will be investment to improve the fabric of Inverclyde royal hospital?”
“Will the member give way? Mark Simpson: I would love to. Stuart McMillan: Reform’s policies are about taking money out of the public sector, but Mr Simpson is now asking for more money to be spent on throughcare support. Where is that money coming from? I am genuinely interested to know.”
“Millions of people globally are impacted by climate change today, and that will also be the case for future generations, as has already been touched upon by Sanne Dijkstra-Downie.”
“It is important that they are successful in delivering the heat that we all need, but the issue of their environmental impact is also vital. District heating systems play an important role in communities up and down the country, but they come in a range of scales. Are they operating effectively?”
“I touched on the CPA a minute ago, and the issue of AI data centres has been raised time and again at both international and regional conferences. We are not the only people who are talking about the issue. Helpfully, it is on the agenda for this year’s festival of politics.”
“I look forward to the contributions from MSPs in the open debate, which I am sure will help the committee’s discussions on Thursday, when we meet for the first time, and during the rest of the parliamentary session. I will touch briefly on three items, for wider consideration.”
The complete record
Every one of 590 lines we hold for Stuart McMillan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 12.
“At the end, the motion notes concerns that the islands “can face many unique challenges, including the threat of depopulation, without the provision of adequate housing, healthcare, transport links and connectivity.” I do not at all disagree with those comments, but I gently remind members that depopulation is not solely an islands issue. The Scottish Government action plan to address depopulation, which was published in February 2024, highlighted that Inverclyde faces the most acute depopulation challenge between 2018 and 2028, at minus 5.1 per cent. The issue is not new—it has been going on since the early 1980s. In the past, Jamie Halcro Johnston and I have debated what happened to industry in my community. We have rehearsed that before, so I do not need to go into it any further today.”
“In the debate that I led two weeks ago in the chamber on the Peel Ports conservancy fee proposals for the River Clyde, there was a unified voice throughout the chamber. We all recognise the damage that the proposals would do to the Clyde and that the Harbours Act 1964 should be updated to ensure that the stewardship of our ports and harbours is removed from the private sector. The updating of the harbours legislation will provide a more joined-up approach, certainly with regard to islands in the west. I do not know about other areas, but colleagues from elsewhere might be able to indicate whether that might improve issues in other parts of the country, including the islands.”
“I congratulate Jamie Halcro Johnston on securing the debate, and I note his comments regarding the islands. As a Highlands and Islands MSP, I would not have expected anything less from him. We all know that our islands are vital for the country. As all speakers so far have highlighted, our islands contribute a great deal to the country and are not short of ambition. Kenneth Gibson touched on the challenges. I recognise the challenges, particularly with regard to the delay in the delivery of the Glen Sannox, and I whole-heartedly support Kenneth Gibson’s consistent calls, and those of local campaigners and other MSPs, to get the deal with Peel Ports over the line to ensure that the port at Ardrossan gets the investment that it sorely needs.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Craig Hoy: I will not, because I am almost over time. Keir Starmer’s national insurance hike, which commenced yesterday, will mean higher prices for customers and job cuts or pay freezes for employees. Scots are now at a breaking point. They simply cannot absorb the quadruple whammy of extra costs that were brought forward yesterday. In the 1970s, Labour squeezed the rich until the pips squeaked; 50 years on, Labour and the SNP are doing the same thing to lower and middle-income Scots. 16:39”
“However, the greatest impact will come from introducing a social tariff mechanism in the short term, to ensure that energy consumers are protected against high costs. Stuart McMillan’s point is well made.”
“The minister and colleagues across the chamber will be aware that electricity regulation, generation, transmission and distribution are reserved to the UK Government, so the Scottish Government cannot legislate to require the provision of shared ownership from renewable energy developments. Has the Scottish Government undertaken any modelling of what the impacts would be on levels of fuel poverty if Scotland were able to mandate community offerings from renewable energy developments? Alasdair Allan: That is another area in which we have had constructive conversations with the UK Government. We continue to call on the UK Government to explore mandating community benefits from renewable energy developments to maximise a just energy transition. Only the UK Government has the power in law to change that.”
“The Government’s budget includes substantial new investment in health boards. In my earlier answer, I indicated that we are making progress on the achievement of the CAMHS performance standard. The combination of early intervention and enabling the service to focus on those children with the most acute needs will help us to address the substance of the point that Mr McMillan has put to me. I would be happy for the health secretary to address the specific points that he has raised on behalf of his constituent.”
“This is a difficult day for us all, and I send my heartfelt condolences to our dear friend and colleague Keith Brown MSP and to Christina’s family. I have a constituent whose daughter is awaiting an ADHD assessment. She sees a counsellor once a week in school while she awaits an appointment with a neurodevelopmental service. The service has said that it wants to wait until she is in primary 7 before seeing her, but, even then, there is still a 26-month waiting list. That is unacceptable. What support can be given to the health services in my Greenock and Inverclyde constituency to help to reduce those waiting times? The First Minister: I will not repeat all the details that I gave in my earlier answer to Mr Fraser, but I acknowledge the seriousness of the point that Mr McMillan has put to me on behalf of his constituent.”
“The Scottish Government is clear that cross- border placements should occur only in exceptional circumstances and when such a placement is in the child’s best interests. We have made provision through the Children, Care and Justice (Scotland) Act 2024 to allow ministers to further regulate cross-border placements in residential care in Scotland. We are currently developing a bolstered regulatory framework, with the overarching aim of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child who is placed into care in Scotland from other parts of the”
“The minister has previously spoken about the use of cross-border placements. Can she comment on how the secure accommodation situation in Scotland compares with the situation elsewhere in the United Kingdom? Can she say more about the Scottish Government’s latest engagement with the UK Government regarding the use of cross-border placements? Natalie Don-Innes: Absolutely. Scotland is not alone in facing such a situation. It is well known that placements across the rest of the UK are volatile, and children are often placed in secure accommodation in Scotland due to the limited availability of placements in England and Wales. I understand that the UK Government is currently working on those issues, as per its recently announced Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.”
“Nonetheless, my ask of the Scottish Government is, first, to continue the dialogue with Peel Ports, to ensure that this cash grab does not come to fruition, and, secondly, to look at the harbour authority powers, either via revision orders or by replacing the Harbours Act 1964. That act was designed for a different time that is unlike now. The Clyde belongs to the people, and it should be managed for the people, not for a private enterprise. 17:18”
“Peel Ports has simply not answered those points, and many more, in any dialogue that it has had with individuals or with representatives from the various boating clubs and marinas. The more the proposals are scrutinised, the more questions there are, which has led the sector and the public to conclude that the proposals are quite simply a cash grab. In conclusion, I emphasise that the issue is not that recreational boaters are unwilling to pay for their pastime. Sailors have always expected to pay for harbour, berthing and mooring fees. They are happy to pay, and want to pay, for what they should be paying for. Every MSP in the chamber recognises that this is not the action of the Scottish Government but the action of a private company.”
“Members of the cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism are particularly frustrated that Peel Ports has twice turned down invites to one of our meetings to explain its proposals. That has further led to those in the sector feeling that the fee is going to be imposed on them without their input. Fundamentally, the recreational boating sector contributes significantly to Scotland’s coastal communities, as other MSPs will recognise with regard to their own constituencies and regions. The last thing that the sector needs, therefore, is recreational boaters being targeted with an unjustified and extortionate fee. In addition, it is unclear how such fees will be collected. Who would pick up the administrative burden, and who is responsible for enforcing such a charge?”
“Boating benefits my Greenock and Inverclyde constituency—it creates and safeguards jobs and is a draw for visitors. Marine tourism has grown locally and nationally thanks to the work of businesses and communities that want to show what our shores have to offer. However, the implementation of a conservancy fee will damage my local economy. The volume of correspondence and the level of anger regarding the conservancy fee proposals is like nothing that I have seen before. I have received emails from constituents and representations from boat clubs and marinas from across the United Kingdom. In addition, the petition that I started on the Change.org website has more than 4,600 signatures. Quite simply, people will stop coming to the Clyde and the west coast of Scotland.”
“It is interesting, therefore, that none of the examples of conservancy fees that Peel Ports has given are applied to leisure vessels under 50 gross tonnage, plus they all relate to charges for the use of specific facilities such as piers, jetties and moorings that belong to the port authority in the relevant areas. However, Peel Ports will not provide additional specific services and facilities and, therefore, claims that the proposed conservancy fee is comparable with existing charges from other harbours and ports really are disingenuous. I brought the debate to the chamber because Inverclyde stretches along the west coast of Scotland and is home to several boat clubs and two first-class marinas. Many of my constituents are recreational boaters, and we frequently welcome visitors to our beautiful part of the country.”
“Unsurprisingly, therefore, the sector began to come to its own conclusions about the motives for introducing such a charge. Peel Ports has attempted to justify the levying of conservancy fees by citing examples from elsewhere in Scotland where harbour charges are applied to leisure craft. However, the Clydeport area is 450 square miles, is not regarded as a harbour and contains numerous remote waters with negligible commercial traffic—the Kyles of Bute and the entire length of Loch Fyne, to give just two examples. Consequently, it is an area with many leisure craft, both local and visiting, with estimates stating that it sees up to 50 per cent of Scotland’s leisure vessels.”
“I established a cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism in 2009 and we were pivotal in delivering Scotland’s first marine tourism strategy, “Awakening the Giant”, in 2015 and the refreshed strategy, “Giant Strides”, in 2020. We are an active cross-party group. I will provide some background to the motion. In August 2024, Peel Ports presented to a group of Clyde-based marina operators its initial plans to levy a conservancy fee on all leisure vessels between 6m and 24m long using the waters within the Clydeport authority area. The plans were subsequently released on social media. Although it was proposed that the fee would be introduced on 1 April 2025, Peel Ports did not publish a detailed plan setting out the rationale for the fee, the services to be provided and the administrative arrangements.”
“I thank colleagues from across the chamber for supporting the motion for debate and my previous motion on the matter. The issue is important and needs to be debated, and the support for my motion demonstrates the widespread opposition to Peel Ports’ conservancy fee plans. That reflects the dialogue that I have had with the boating sector, as everyone who I have spoken to rejects the proposed conservancy fee for the Clydeport area—a view that is also held by many people who are not sailors or boaters. In today’s polarised world, it is rare to find an issue that unifies everyone, but it is clear that people think that this proposal is not appropriate and must be abandoned. The Clyde belongs to the people of Scotland, not to corporate interests.”
“That has been argued for by Alasdair Allan MSP and by David Stewart when he was a member of the Scottish Parliament—”
“As Fiona Hyslop, the present transport secretary, and Jenny Gilruth, the previous transport minister, will know, I offered my considerations on project Neptune, which Claire Baker referenced. To me, the project offered little apart from proposals that would damage Port Glasgow. I accept that having three organisations, which all have different boards and chief executive officers, is not perfect and costs money. However, decimating Port Glasgow town centre by removing jobs would cost a lot more. Putting CMAL back into CalMac would inevitably lead to 50 jobs leaving Port Glasgow and returning to Gourock. Jobs staying in the constituency is a good thing, but 50 jobs leaving Port Glasgow would damage the town. It would lead to CalMac staff going around the network.”
“I remind the Parliament that my wife works part time for CalMac. In response to Claire Baker’s comments regarding Turkey, I put on the public record at the outset that colleagues genuinely need to realise and recognise why there are delays there. More than 50,000 people lost their lives in an earthquake, and shipyard staff went back to their communities to try to help them. I do not think that it is fair to attack the Scottish Government because of an earthquake that took place in a different country. I want to touch on the road equivalent tariff, which the SNP Government brought in in 2008. Almost every fare on every route, barring the Orkney and Shetland routes, is cheaper than when the SNP came to power, even after 18 years of inflation. Scottish Labour’s motion talks about the “governance structure for west coast ferry services”.”
“Scottish Labour supports a direct award to CalMac for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract, but we also seek assurances that that will not prevent any progress to improve governance. I know that, this morning, the cabinet secretary was due to meet unions, passenger groups and local authorities, and such engagement is to be welcomed. In her speech, I ask the cabinet secretary to provide an update on when a decision will be reached on the contract.”
“The fact that the increase comes after a previous freeze is little comfort to those who rely on those services in order to live their lives. We need to look at how the fare structure is working, including the road equivalent tariff, and the potential for concessionary schemes that will increase the use of ferries among underrepresented groups. If we want a ferry network that works for island communities, we also need to fix the governance structure. The split between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, Caledonian MacBrayne and Transport Scotland is chaotic and confusing, and it has allowed for the evasion of responsibility for failings. It does not provide accountability for the communities that are most reliant on ferry services and are most impacted when things go wrong.”
“In her letter to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport argued that it was necessary to fund future vessels and infrastructure investment, but that only exposes the Scottish Government’s past failures to plan adequately. The burden of mismanagement is being shifted to passengers, who are now paying more for services that remain unreliable. That is a recurring theme across public transport. We all want a public transport system—that includes ferries—that is accessible, available and affordable, but the Scottish Government cannot continue to repeat that message while taking actions that go against it. Affordable fares are essential to encouraging more people to use ferry services.”
“Although the Ferguson Marine bid was rated highly for quality, that was not enough for it to secure the work in the face of price competition from overseas. That the procurement process focuses more on cost than on the wider value could and should be looked at. Scottish shipbuilding has long been a source of pride as a strategic industry that creates jobs, supports communities and preserves vital skills. The outsourcing of the contract is a wasted opportunity to invest in domestic skills and infrastructure. The 10 per cent fare hike for passengers, which operators did not ask for, adds insult to injury for islanders.”
“It highlighted failures in governance, transparency, accountability and communication. Now, the decision to award preferred-bidder status for the small vessel replacement programme contract to a Polish shipyard has dealt another blow to the Scottish shipbuilding industry. Ferguson Marine had included that contract as a key part of its five- year business plan. Yes, other work is taking place and will be bid for, but the loss of that work risks undermining the future of the yard and the workers who rely on it. What message does that send to the skilled workers and apprentices at Ferguson Marine? In all the committee inquiries, BBC documentaries and newspaper columns, the workers have rightly been recognised for their skills and commitment— they are not at fault.”
“People miss hospital appointments; businesses lose customers and stock; and communities are effectively cut off. That lack of connectivity is not a minor inconvenience. For too long, the Scottish Government has failed to plan properly for the renewal of the ferry fleet. The ageing vessels in the fleet are repeatedly out of service for costly repairs and there has been no long-term plan to replace them. That is not accidental—it was a political choice. The decision to not have a rolling renewal programme was taken in full knowledge of what the consequences would be. That neglect has deprioritised the programme and led to the situation that we are in, and island communities are living with the results. Two years have passed since the Public Audit Committee’s damning report on the delivery of new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Claire Baker: If it is brief—I do not have much time. Stuart McMillan: Is Claire Baker aware of the reasons why the ferries in Turkey are late? Claire Baker: It is recognised that the ferries in Turkey are late due to a multitude of issues. The issue in Scotland, however, is that the constant drip, drip of delays and problems with the ferry network mean that any delay in any part of the system has a significant impact on islanders. With each press story, some people might have become hardened to the failings—as has been demonstrated by members in the chamber so far. However, for our island communities, they are not just headlines but lived realities. When a ferry service is cancelled, it is not just an inconvenience—it is damaging to the local economy, to businesses and to families.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what engagement it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding rejoining the European single market. (S6O-04447)”
“On 20 June this year, the Ardgowan distillery in Inverkip will open. In 2018, I stated: “Inverkip will join the whisky trail soon when the Ardgowan distillery is built.” —[Official Report, 13 September 2018; c 77.] That was seven years ago, and it will be a real pleasure to see that whisky distillery open. I have engaged with the distillery a great deal over the years, particularly with the chief executive officer, Martin McAdam, and the major shareholder, Roland Grain. I cannot wait for that to open, because it certainly will put Inverkip and Inverclyde on the whisky map, and that can only be a good thing for the community. 16:15”
“He makes everything himself and brings very little in. Ben has travelled the world to bring in some of the best flavours and combinations. His menu changes every few weeks, but it is normally focused on specific cuisines such as Japanese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese cooking. Greenock also has a 120-year-old family baker, Aulds, which is—again—multi-award winning and supplies delicious products to the community and beyond. That family baker is vital to our local economy and creates many hundreds of jobs. I will touch on two aspects with regard to drink. The first is the award-winning Titan rum. Three guys liked rum. They had a hobby and decided to make rum to sell. Titan Spirits is based in Greenock and Titan rum is stocked in the Scottish Parliament bar, if anyone finds that of interest. It has won multiple awards.”
“It reopened only earlier this year, and there remains some scepticism as to whether that will deliver more footfall; however, the street has attracted new businesses in recent years. We have Bird Chicken Shop, which has halal, vegan and gluten- free offerings. We also have the Alchemist, which is a new coffee shop that offers sandwiches from bakers and other local stores, helping the local economy. That includes Tonino’s foccacia breads, which really are out of this world—Tonino’s is another multi-award-winning facility in the constituency. We also have a business called 17Ngon, set up by Ben Egan, who travelled to Japan to train. He did not come from Inverclyde, but he chose to come to Inverclyde to set up his business. All of his produce is manufactured in the restaurant, and it is all made from raw materials.”
“It is based in Greenock and produces delicious products, from Buchanan’s toffees and chocolates, Millions, All Rounders, Hawick Balls, Gibb products and many others, which are sold far and wide. Once again, the business is family owned—it is now in its third generation of ownership, and it is extremely important for the local economy. However, it is not just the businesses themselves that contribute to Inverclyde’s growing food and sector. Kempock Street in Gourock, for example, has seen a growth in footfall, which has given a huge boost to hospitality, and the bimonthly Gourock farmers market is certainly worthwhile visiting, too. In Greenock, West Blackhall Street has recently undergone investment to try to recreate some of the success that has taken place in Gourock.”
“Ryan’s business acumen and commitment to sustainably sourced coffee saw Downriver win the entrepreneurialism award last year and be nominated for the sustainability category at the Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce icon awards. In 2018, I touched on the multi-award-winning McCaskie’s butcher, based in Wemyss Bay. McCaskie’s is now in its third generation of family ownership under Nigel Ovens, and it is considered to be Scotland’s most award-winning butcher, which is testament to its outstanding products. In that debate, I also mentioned the Golden Casket Group, which is considered to be one of the largest and most innovative confectionery specialists in the UK.”
“Sadly, the couple who ran the business have retired and the place is now no longer operational, but I genuinely wish them very well in their retirement, because they provided an absolutely outstanding product. Port Glasgow now has a company called Downriver Coffee Roasters. It was set up by Ryan, who is originally from New York but came to Scotland in 2015 to study. Ryan and her wife moved to Inverclyde during the pandemic, and soon after, she began pursuing a career in coffee roasting. Despite Downriver being a young business, Ryan has put her mark on the local economy—she is supplying local hospitality businesses as well as customers outside the constituency.”
“As she said, it is not just rural and island communities, but ordinary communities, too, that have a huge amount to offer when it comes to food and drink in Scotland. I wanted to speak in the debate because it reminded me of a debate that took place in 2018, in which I also spoke. I spoke then about the importance of the food and drink industry not only to Scotland, but to my Greenock and Inverclyde constituency in particular. At that time, I gave a special mention to the New Chocolate Company, which was based in Port Glasgow—in fact, the company delivered some chocolate to MSPs’ offices after the debate. Sadly, I cannot do the same today—that is the only negative point that I will mention.”
“I wish the cabinet secretary well for the remainder of her time in Parliament and beyond. The debate has been interesting so far. It is obvious to me that it is only with independence that we can do a lot more with regard to Scotland’s food and drink. The Tory whisky duty hikes when that party was last in power reduced tax revenue by £300 million, and Labour’s national insurance hike is threatening jobs, so it is clear that we could do so much more if we were an independent country. Craig Hoy: Will the member take an intervention on that point? Stuart McMillan: I am sorry, Mr Hoy—I normally take interventions, but not today. I agree with Clare Haughey’s comments—I see that she is leaving the chamber just as I am going to praise her.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported decision to award phase 1 of the small vessel replacement programme to a Polish shipyard. (S6T-02425)”
“In his statement, the cabinet secretary mentioned the national infrastructure board. Will he provide more information on how the board provides national oversight and supports health and care service needs? Neil Gray: The NHS Scotland national infrastructure board plays a vital role in guiding the strategic development and investment in NHS Scotland’s infrastructure, ensuring that it can effectively support the delivery of healthcare services. A key function of the board is to provide advice and direction on long-term whole-system strategic planning for NHS Scotland’s infrastructure. The board considers how best to ensure that current infrastructure remains safe, resilient and fit for purpose. It also looks ahead, 20 to 30 years hence, to anticipate future needs and helps to shape NHS Scotland’s future infrastructure investment programme.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what dialogue it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding a replacement for Port Glasgow health centre. (S6O-04420)”
“It is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring that no family in our community is left behind. For too long, families raising children with additional and complex needs have not had equal access to one of the most fundamental rights—the ability to learn, play, and be a part of their community during school breaks, summer in particular. We know this because parents have shared their stories—their exhaustion, their frustration, and their heartbreak.””
“By way of background, the SNP council group put forward fully costed proposals for £300,000 to improve the play 4 all summer childcare provision for children with ASN in Inverclyde. Parents consistently highlighted to the SNP councillors and to me the need for such provision. In support of that proposal, which was baselined so that it would be recurring in future budgets, my colleague Councillor James Daisley said during the meeting: “This is about families who have spoken out, determined to have their struggles recognised. It is about children who, right now, are missing out on the same experiences their peers enjoy—and it is about those families who will one day walk this path—who deserve to know that their child’s needs will be met when the time comes. This is not just a discussion about policy.”
“I go back to the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s “Additional Support for Learning inquiry report”, which was debated that day, and I again highlight paragraph 29, which states: “Many responses to the call for views contained details of negative personal experiences, including parents and carers having to ‘fight’ to get support for their child and some disturbing accounts of the impact on children and young people with ASN’s health and mental wellbeing.” Sadly, that reflects the experiences of many Inverclyde families. It is with deep regret that families feel that they need to fight to have their children’s rights upheld, which takes me on to Inverclyde Council’s budget meeting last Thursday.”
“I thank Alexander Stewart for bringing the debate to the chamber and for lodging the motion, which highlights that more than one in four pupils in Scotland are estimated to have an additional support need. That figure demonstrates how important it is that we improve additional learning support for pupils across the country. Mr Stewart’s motion also refers to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Scotland Act 2004 and the statutory guidance on additional support for learning from 2017. However, although that legislation and guidance is in place, I share Mr Stewart’s concerns, and those of my colleagues, about how additional learning support is delivered in practice. I raised that point during the ASN debate that was held in the chamber on 25 September last year.”
“I thank the three committees for their work, which will help to shape future delivery and actions. 16:27”
“The challenge with that is that the funding for this Parliament is not always consistent, as Audit Scotland highlighted in its “Fiscal sustainability and reform in Scotland” report, which the Public Audit Committee discussed yesterday. Recommendation 17 is on “continued support for people in recovery, such as supported temporary accommodation and key workers”. Recommendation 19 is on “an additional public awareness campaign” on naloxone, which has been touched on. Some of my staff, like Audrey Nicoll’s, have already undergone such training. Our country has still got a long way to go to save the lives of our constituents who need assistance. I welcome the findings of the people’s panel and the work that it has undertaken to produce its report.”
“I will give further consideration to the recommendations, but I whole-heartedly welcome the following ones. Recommendation 2 is about “ongoing support and aftercare in the statutory workforce.” Recommendation 3 is on “anti-stigma training”. Recommendation 4 says: “There needs to be consistent financial support and training for the workforce, especially for support workers and people with lived and living experiences.” Recommendation 6 is on “continuation and consistency of de-penalising minor drug offences and not imprisoning people for short periods.” Recommendation 9 says: “All bodies must have an information sharing agreement in place which is GDPR compliant.” Clare Haughey touched on that in her opening comments. Recommendation 10 asks for a protected “five year minimum” of funding.”
“There is evidence that such facilities are helping to save lives. A key aspect of the national mission that I welcome is the investment in more than 300 grass-roots projects to help our constituents and communities. The public sector cannot do this alone, so a partnership approach between public and third sector organisations is crucial in order to help people, save lives and help our communities. The second half of that funding section chimes with my own views: “There should be more care provided by the Third Sector; funding should be allocated accordingly and based on need; funding should be ring fenced and prevention should be prioritised.” Finally on that issue, I highlight that the Scottish Government’s budget for next year, which some of us in the chamber voted for last week, included £150 million of funding.”
“I believe that the adoption of a public health approach instead of a judicial approach has helped to change some societal views regarding the challenge that society faces in helping people with drug addiction. However, there is clearly still a lot more to do. The 19 recommendations and the level of support for each of them clearly highlight the engagement of the panel members. Before I get to some of the recommendations, I want to touch on the funding section, on page 31 of the report. The phrase “lack of urgency and implementation, given the scale of the crisis” was stark reading. The Scottish Government’s national mission on drugs involves £250 million of funding over this parliamentary session. That is not an insubstantial amount of money, and it incorporates the investment in the safer drug consumption facility pilot in Glasgow.”
“I remind members that I chair the Moving On Inverclyde local recovery service. I welcome the joint work that has been undertaken by three of the Parliament’s committees, and I express my appreciation to all those who took part in the people’s panel events for doing so and for producing this important report. Scotland loses too many people to drug deaths. We can all agree on that. The 1,172 drug deaths in 2023 were 1,172 too many, but that was the second-lowest number of deaths since 2017, with there being the lowest number in 2022. The Scottish Government is working hard, within its powers, to reduce the number of drug deaths, and a public health approach is the correct way to do that.”