Clare Haughey
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I note that the Deputy First Minister has confirmed that vape shops will be excluded from eligibility for relief from 1 April 2027, and I welcome that commitment. How will that contribute to the Scottish Government’s public health commitments and build on the progress that has been made on reducing the harm that vapes can cause?”
“That is exactly why we are taking action to ensure that vape shops contribute to the high street, recognising the growth of the sector in recent years, and also to ensure that rates relief aligns with our public health commitments, to answer the member’s point.”
“In the 1970s, the then- Labour Glasgow City Council proposed demolishing the People’s Palace building to put in a motorway—a potential work of historical vandalism of epic proportions.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests: I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The Queen Elizabeth university hospital in Glasgow was recently ordered by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to make 26 improvements.”
“With that in mind, we always want to encourage women to access the care that they need. In my statement, I intimated that I quickly met the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and, separately, Healthcare Improvement Scotland.”
“Being able to communicate your needs and have them be understood is fundamental to care. I also took the opportunity to engage with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which confirmed the proactive leadership and ownership by the chief executive and the board.”
The complete record
Every one of 404 lines we hold for Clare Haughey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 9.
“In Scotland, as part of our plan to reform the NHS, I announced proposals for subnational planning, which will ensure that NHS health boards work together in the east and in the west of Scotland, allowing teams to work across their boundaries to better support patients to get the care that they need in a timely manner. This year, we have allocated more than £135.5 million to specialty areas, in which the money can have the greatest impact in reducing the longest waits. As I said, yesterday’s figures show that the number of waits of more than 52 weeks has reduced for the fifth month in a row. NHS Grampian 4.”
“I remind members that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. As the cabinet secretary mentioned in his previous answer, the number of knee and hip replacement surgeries is at a record high under the Scottish National Party Government, which proves once again that, although waiting lists have risen under Mr Russell’s bosses in NHS England, the Scottish Government’s plan to bring down NHS waiting lists is working. Will the cabinet secretary advise how the Scottish Government will continue to drive such improvements in the months ahead? Neil Gray: I thank Clare Haughey for that question, not least because I noted with interest the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee’s analysis of the challenges with waiting times in Labour-run England.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the warning from Scottish Care that the United Kingdom Government’s immigration proposals risk destabilising care provision in Scotland. (S6T-02772)”
“To ask the First Minister, in light of the United Kingdom Government’s reported decision to revisit compensating women against state pension inequality, what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential social security implications for those affected in Scotland. (S6F-04468)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the United Kingdom Government’s pride in place programme in relation to its impact on devolved issues. (S6O-05161)”
“Likewise, the recruitment of new NHS 24 staff will reduce call handling times, manage rising demand and enhance clinical supervision, ensuring faster and safer triage for patients. We have also significantly increased the number of paramedics in recent years, and those changes will deliver tangible benefits for people across Scotland during the busiest months. I pay tribute to our Scottish Ambulance Service staff and thank them for the work that they do.”
“Neil Gray: Clare Haughey puts on the record important context relating to the challenge that is being faced in all parts of the United Kingdom, despite what Labour colleagues here might say. As I set out in my statement, we are increasing investment to strengthen the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24 ahead of winter. More staff will help to address capacity challenges, improve care for those who need urgent treatment and ease pressure on accident and emergency departments. Additional roles in the Ambulance Service’s integrated clinical hub mean that more patients can be treated without unnecessary hospital visits, freeing up crews to deal with life- threatening emergencies.”
“The Scottish Ambulance Service is a vital component of emergency care throughout the year, but particularly in winter, and Scotland is not unique with regard to the pressures that ambulance teams face. I note that, under the Labour Government in England, the category 1 and 2 ambulance response times in September were the slowest since February, while the category 3 and 4 response times were the slowest since December 2024. I welcome the steps that the cabinet secretary announced in his statement to shore up Scotland’s ambulance service, and I welcome the news this week of an increase in the number of call handlers for the service and NHS 24. Will the cabinet secretary outline how those changes will bring benefits for patients over the winter months?”
“Together, we must reaffirm our shared and utmost priority— that the safety and wellbeing of mothers and babies is paramount. 15:58”
“However, it is extremely disappointing that the same points against that very clear and direct argument have recently been rehashed by some Opposition politicians, and that misinformation has circulated in the media about Scotland’s current neonatal service model. As the health secretary made crystal clear to the Parliament last week, no neonatal units are closing and, where care is being consolidated, it is for the very smallest and sickest babies—in three specialist units—so that those babies have the absolute best chance of survival. The new model of neonatal intensive care was recommended by the “Best Start” report in 2017, following robust clinical evidence—which the Government would be heavily criticised for not following—on what the safest and best possible model for the sickest babies should be.”
“The decision to eventually close Rutherglen maternity, which was instigated under a Tory Administration and completed under a Labour Administration, ultimately hinged on its stand-alone status. The clinical experts’ view at the time was that, when there were difficulties or complications, acute hospital services and a full range of further specialist support should be available on site. It was the health board’s view that, when highly complex and specialist neonatal surgery or complex neonatal paediatric care were required, there were clear safety benefits to co-location with main centres of excellence. I fully appreciate that it is a highly emotive topic for many families today, just as it was 27 years ago.”
“Many people in Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Halfway, Blantyre and East Kilbride have fond memories of welcoming a new addition to their families in Rutherglen maternity. I worked there during my nurse training, and my oldest son was born in the hospital. The care that mothers and babies received there is still viewed with fondness and high regard by many, who held genuinely and sincerely strong feelings about the news of its closure. Unfortunately, things did not always go according to plan. Over the years, I have heard of occasions when an emergent issue, such as a cardiovascular or neurological incident, meant that a patient had to be rushed to another hospital in Glasgow to access more specialist care, sometimes just in time to save their life.”
“The SNP Scottish Government is committed to learning from every case, in order to improve care, strengthen safety and support families. That is why the HIS inspection reports are being undertaken and will be reviewed by Scotland’s new maternity and neonatal task force. As the health secretary acknowledged last week, some of the reports might make difficult reading for health boards and the Government, which has agreed that a national investigation into service design and delivery should take place if the task force recommends it. Around 56,000 Scots have the word “Rutherglen” on their birth certificates. From 1979 to 1998, Rutherglen maternity hospital operated as a stand-alone maternity hospital on Stonelaw Road in my constituency.”
“I think that the Wishaw NICU is award winning because of the excellent care by the staff and their close bond with families who have to keep going back there for on-going care. Does she recognise that that is why the planned changes are so frightening for families, including those who have put the lives of their babies in the hands of that hospital and would not have their babies without it? Does she understand why the calls to pause the review are growing louder and louder, and that we need to do what we can to save that unit? Clare Haughey: I will come on to that point at the end of my speech. Any death or injury in maternity and neonatal services is one too many, is an absolute tragedy and must be followed by a period of reflection and learning.”
“In my 30-plus years of clinical practice, there has been significant progress in many areas, including reducing infant mortality. Neonatal deaths and stillbirths reached their lowest level in 2024. In September, NHS Lanarkshire, which provides care to many of my constituents, won the Health Service Journal award for maternity and midwifery services initiative of the year, for its innovation, expertise and unwavering commitment to patient safety. That followed the launch of its holistic antenatal care pathway to provide women with optimal care and evidence-based interventions to reverse an increasing rate of stillbirth that the board had noted during the pandemic. Monica Lennon: I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to Clare Haughey’s expertise.”
“I know that that gratitude will be shared by many in the chamber. The subject is incredibly emotive and sensitive and will have deeply personal resonance for most members, whether in relation to themselves, their family or loved ones. Before my election to the Parliament, I specialised for around 15 years in perinatal mental health, so I am only too aware that, although the period around a birth can be one of the most exciting times in a family’s life, it can sometimes be the most challenging—all the more so when events do not go to plan. When that happens, our hard-working maternity care midwives, nurses, support staff, doctors and clinicians do an incredible job in offering families compassionate and supportive care.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests: I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I am sure that many of us were deeply moved by the experiences that were shared on the recent BBC “Disclosure” programme on maternity and neonatal services. The families who have chosen to share their stories in recent weeks have shown an almost unimaginable courage and resilience. The loss of a baby or child is a pain beyond any of our worst fears. When the health secretary made a statement to the Parliament last week, after the publication of the report into acute maternity services at the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh and the airing of the “Disclosure” documentary, he shared his family’s experience and his deep personal gratitude to the maternity staff for their care.”
“Our position could not be clearer: the founding principles of our national health service— that it is publicly owned, publicly operated and free at the point of need—are sacrosanct. That is why our backing of our NHS with record funding—I note that Labour and the Conservatives refused to support that record funding investment for our NHS during the budget vote—comes with a focus on reform. Such reform empowers our NHS to deliver high-quality care to people across the country, and it includes the £25.5 million of additional funding that was announced this week to allow boards to deliver more appointments and procedures. NHS Grampian (Procurement Practices) 2.”
“I remind members that I am a practising nurse in the NHS. The poll to which Mr Halcro Johnston referred also shows that 88 per cent of people believe that healthcare should be free. The Tories and Labour have been all too happy to carve out the NHS in England to private companies. Will the cabinet secretary reaffirm that this SNP Government will always protect the founding principles of the NHS, which are that it is publicly owned and free at the point of need— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary— Clare Haughey: —and will he ensure that it remains well funded and prepared to meet the requirements of all who use it? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Apologies, Ms Haughey. I thought that you had finished. Neil Gray: I absolutely agree with Clare Haughey.”
“We can see that from the statistics that have come out today on cancelled operations. We have seen a 4 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of operations that are being performed and planned. We have seen activity rates go up, and waiting times—the longest waits—are coming down. Again, that is in contrast to what is happening in other parts of the United Kingdom. The £25.5 million funding increase that was announced on Monday brings our total additional investment in reducing waiting times to £135.5 million this year. That is dedicated funding as part of the record £21.7 billion that has been invested in our national health service. I point out that that was investment that the Labour Party could not support.”
“I remind members that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I thank our incredibly hard-working staff and my colleagues in the NHS and the Scottish Ambulance Service, who are working day in and day out to reduce delays and bring down waiting times. I am sure that Jackie Baillie will welcome the recent statistics that show that waiting times are coming down in Scotland. How will the First Minister’s announcement yesterday of additional funding for nine health boards further help with that? Neil Gray: First, I thank Clare Haughey for acknowledging the incredible efforts that are being made by our staff. In this case, the focus is on our ambulance staff, who operate in incredibly challenging situations and to whom I am incredibly grateful. Secondly, we are seeing increased activity rates.”
“Members, this is a matter of basic courtesy. Surely we can afford one another that most basic courtesy. Ms Haughey, please continue. Clare Haughey: Thank you, Presiding Officer. What steps is the SNP Government taking to build on that progress, boost capacity in our NHS and ensure that Scots continue to have access to the highest-quality NHS services?”
“I remind members that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This week, the Scottish National Party Government announced the largest-ever investment in general practitioner services in Scotland, through the provision of more than £500 million over the next three years to support recruitment. Latest national health service waiting list figures show that long waits are down for the fourth month in a row, while NHS activity is rising. Those tangible results show what happens when an SNP Scottish Government delivers for Scotland’s NHS. What steps is the SNP Government—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. Clare Haughey: What steps is the SNP Government taking to build on that progress— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: I am sorry to stop you, Ms Haughey.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding their implementation of Scottish Government legislation. (S6O-05072)”
“Of course, it reinforces the connection that Clare Haughey referred to, between Blantyre, the birthplace of David Livingstone, and the projects that are taken forward, which are deeply appreciated by the people of”
“The University of Zambia in Lusaka has been added to the project— I saw the new laboratory there—which enables this to be a three-country research programme that looks at non-communicable diseases as well as vaccine efficacy, particularly in relation to vaccination for cholera and Covid. That work enables us and those universities in Africa to participate as equals in a multinational network of exchange on research issues, making it possible to undertake a more sophisticated research process. That is a combination that leads to collective enhancement of human health. I pay tribute to the leadership of the University of Glasgow, which has given tremendous commitment to the venture over a number of years. It is enhancing human health, and we should be very proud of the exchanges that have taken place.”
“I was delighted to see the First Minister visit Malawi this month. As he will be aware, my constituency has strong ties to that country through Blantyre in South Lanarkshire being the birthplace of David Livingstone. Can the First Minister provide more details on the partnership between Malawi and Scotland through the Blantyre-Blantyre programme—which I understand the Scottish Government supports financially—particularly in relation to how the project can positively benefit our two countries? The First Minister: I saw at first hand the investment that has been made in the Blantyre- Blantyre clinical research project, which originated as a partnership between the University of Glasgow and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Blantyre, Malawi.”
“I was proud to stand up for Cambuslang jobcentre in 2017, and I am proud to do so today. I am proud of the resolve of the local residents, communities, activists and organisations in my constituency, which I stood alongside in 2017 and which I am standing alongside today. The motion is about protecting local services and about dignity and respect in relation to how we treat vulnerable groups in our communities. It is about giving my Cambuslang constituents access to a vital service and helping them to access benefits, work and training opportunities. I will continue to campaign for the DWP and the UK Labour Government to lift the threat of closure of Cambuslang jobcentre and to secure its future. 17:44”
“Perhaps Andrew Western, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, who made the announcement in July, has had other important DWP-related matters on his mind. After all, on 15 September, he provided an MP with an answer as to on how many days the union flag had been flown over DWP buildings. Altogether, the UK Government’s behaviour has been nothing short of disgraceful. It has provided a flimsy rationale that does not stand up to any sensible scrutiny. It has not even matched the previous Government’s extremely low threshold to trigger consultation. It has flat-out ignored elected members’ requests for meetings and further information. In the face of increasing pressure from all sides, it has repeated the same worn-out lines in the local and national press.”
“That speaks volumes to my constituents about how much their regional Labour representatives care. It is disgraceful that there has not been a cheep from the Labour MP on the matter, either. It has been 11 weeks since I wrote to the UK Government to request an urgent meeting and to relate my constituents’ concerns. I have yet to receive a substantive reply, let alone a date for a meeting. I ask the minister to write to the DWP to chivvy it along and make it aware that my constituents are so concerned about the closure of Cambuslang jobcentre. I am not alone. Local Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors have shared that they have not received replies, either.”
“Where are Anas Sarwar and Pauline McNeill today? Where are they when a jobcentre in their region is again under threat? Back then, our Conservative colleague Annie Wells spoke very honestly about her concerns about the proposed consultation process, or lack thereof. I appreciate that that must have been a politically uncomfortable position for her to take, given that there was a Tory United Kingdom Government at the time. It is for that reason that I commend one local Labour councillor for speaking up for her constituents in the council chamber and for publicly stating: “The evidence that the DWP has given for the relocation definitely does not stack up. There is nothing that stacks up that justifies closing the jobcentre.” I am deeply concerned that not one of our Labour colleagues has signed my motion or stayed to listen to the debate.”
“Frankly, it feels like the latest decision has been made by someone who could not point to Cambuslang on a map, let alone be bothered to look at the building on Google maps, download a bus timetable or google local representatives’ names. There has been absolutely no consultation whatsoever with local communities, service users, elected members, trade unions or Department for Work and Pensions employees. At a meeting of South Lanarkshire Council on 1 October, the SNP group lodged a motion that called on the council to unite in condemning the proposed closure. I am delighted to say that the motion was passed unanimously, with councillors of all political parties and none coming together to stand up for the community. In 2017, Labour members lined up to condemn the prospect of jobcentre closures, including in Cambuslang.”
“The community council is fiercely protective of local services—it successfully launched a banking hub in the face of the withdrawal of high street banks, for example—and I commend its continued commitment to Cambuslang. I also put on the record my thanks to the many local businesses and shops that have displayed the poster about my campaign and petition. In 2017, the previous UK Government said that, if it would take 20 minutes for people to reach a named alternative by public transport, there should be a public consultation on any proposed jobcentre closure. My constituents in Halfway, Drumsagard or Lightburn would face around a 90- minute walk, or a journey of at least 30 minutes on public transport, to Rutherglen jobcentre. My constituents in Greenlees would face up to a 45- minute journey using public transport.”
“Hundreds of local residents have now signed my petition against the closure, and many of them have shared their stories with me. Those people would be seriously impacted by any closure, and I am thankful for their candidness. Time and again, I have heard fears around accessibility, travel time and the threat of punitive sanctions for being late or missing an appointment. Cambuslang community council is a well-kent and well-respected organisation that is rooted in the communities that its members serve and it knows them inside out. It has been unequivocal in its opposition to any closure, citing the disproportionate impact that it would have on vulnerable people and those who live in areas of deprivation, and I agree with it entirely.”
“Strangely enough, the DWP’s lease in Cambuslang is due to end in early 2026. The DWP has claimed that the jobcentre’s proposed closure is part of its plans to leave “older, poorer-quality buildings”. That supposed justification would be risible if it was not so insulting. Cambuslang jobcentre is situated in a bright, accessible, modern building in a central location in the town. It is co-located with other vital services including the award-winning employment champion Routes to Work South, which has just celebrated its 20th year of operation. In fact, the jobcentre is in such a great location that the DWP invested more than £200,000 of public money in new doors and closed-circuit television just a couple of years ago. The DWP rationale simply does not wash with the residents of Cambuslang and it does not wash with me.”
“In January 2017, I stood up in the chamber to speak in my colleague Bob Doris’s debate on proposed jobcentre closures in the Glasgow region, including Cambuslang jobcentre in my constituency. After a huge effort from the local community, local organisations, trade unions, activists and elected members, Cambuslang jobcentre was saved. Eight years later, communities in my constituency find themselves in exactly the same situation, albeit under a Labour Government rather than a Tory Government at Westminster. The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that Cambuslang jobcentre is to close, with all services being relocated to Rutherglen. In 2017, my colleague Jamie Hepburn made the point that the decision to close particular jobcentres seemed to be driven by the fact that lease arrangements for buildings were coming to an end.”
“We also heard evidence that abstinence-based treatment pathways will not suit everyone and that, depending on where they are in their treatment and recovery journey, many individuals benefit more from harm-reduction interventions.”
“The committee also heard concerns about how the bill might interact with existing legal frameworks and strategies that are aimed at tackling drug and alcohol harms. More fundamentally, many of those who gave evidence raised concerns that, in a context of finite resources, establishing a legal right to treatment could create a significant risk of litigation and might set an unhelpful legal precedent for the creation of similar rights to the treatment of other conditions. There was a general consensus among witnesses, particularly those working on the ground in front-line services, that the bill places too much emphasis on abstinence-based treatment over harm reduction.”
“Clare Haughey: I remind Mr Ross that the committee looks at the evidence that it receives in its entirety—that includes written evidence as well as oral evidence—and that the witnesses who came to the committee were agreed on a cross- party basis by the committee. That is how the committee chooses the people and organisations that come before it to give evidence. Although I accept what Mr Ross said, there was some support for the bill from the organisations that we heard from, but they also criticised elements of it. Evidence that was submitted raised particular concerns that certain aspects of the bill’s provisions would exacerbate stigma for those who are experiencing harm from drug and alcohol use and would risk creating additional barriers to their accessing treatment.”
“Many contributors to our scrutiny of the bill raised concerns about the bill’s lack of recognition of the role of the wider multidisciplinary team and the importance of trauma-informed approaches and a whole-family approach, as well as some of the language and terminology used in the bill. The evidence that was submitted to the committee— Douglas Ross: I am grateful to the committee convener for taking an intervention. I ask this in a genuinely non-partisan way. She is speaking about the evidence that the committee received. Does she accept that, on balance, the witnesses that the committee heard from were largely against the bill, whereas the public support was 80 per cent in favour of the bill?”
“The report identifies various provisions in the bill that the committee concluded would require significant amendment in order to be workable. I will highlight to the Parliament some of the key practical challenges that are associated with implementation of the bill as drafted. They include the requirement for individuals to have received a diagnosis of addiction to be able to exercise the right to recovery that would be established by the bill, the requirement for individuals to attend in- person appointments, and the proposed maximum timescales for accessing treatment.”
“I believe that I speak for all members of the committee when I say that I commend any policy that is intended to improve public health outcomes for the people of Scotland, but it would be remiss of any committee not to consider whether, in practice, the bill that it is scrutinising is capable of delivering its intended aims. Having considered all the evidence, and noting the member in charge of the bill’s recognition of the need for the bill to be substantially amended were it to progress to stage 2, a majority of the committee members concluded that they are unable to recommend that the general principles of the bill be agreed to. That decision was not taken lightly, but it reflects the many concerns that the committee heard about the bill’s focus and scope during its stage 1 scrutiny.”
“I assure the Parliament and all those who engaged with the committee that our members are acutely aware that more needs to be done in that area. Scotland has long-standing and serious issues associated with drug and alcohol harms. Although I commend the good work that is being done at every level to tackle those issues, it remains the case that every single drug death is a tragedy. It is our duty as representatives to ensure that we explore all avenues that we can to improve the current public health situation in Scotland and, ultimately, save lives. That said, it is also incumbent on the lead committee in any scrutiny process to be forensic in its analysis of the provisions in the bill that is before it.”
“The committee’s informal engagement and call for evidence, the latter of which received 129 responses, were critical in providing an evidence base for the report and they gave committee members a tremendous insight into not just the potential impact of the provisions in the bill, but the wider issues that are involved in tackling alcohol and drug harms across Scotland. The extent of the committee’s consultation and its lengthy programme of oral evidence reflect how seriously it took its role in scrutinising the bill. As is highlighted in the concluding recommendations on the general principles of the bill, the report acknowledges the overwhelming amount of evidence that we heard of a high level of dissatisfaction with the current availability of, and access to, drug and alcohol support services across the country.”
“As convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I welcome the opportunity to speak in this stage 1 debate on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill. As the Parliament will be aware, the committee published its stage 1 report on the bill on 23 September. The report is the culmination of an extensive and far-reaching programme of scrutiny, and I draw members’ attention to the evidence and the recommendations that it sets out. Before I speak to the substance of the report, I thank those individuals, organisations and wider stakeholders who engaged with the committee during its scrutiny and, in particular, those who had the courage to share their lived experience of accessing support services for harm from drug and alcohol use.”
“I remind the Parliament that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Having adequate staffing levels is key to ensuring the provision of high-quality services. Will the minister provide an update on current CAMHS staffing levels and on the Scottish Government’s work to invest in our mental health workforce? Tom Arthur: As I touched on earlier, there has been significant investment. Staffing has increased by more than 54.3 per cent to 1,510.9 whole-time-equivalent posts. We have exceeded our commitment to provide funding for 320 additional staff in CAMHS by 2026, which has increased capacity for cases by more than 10,000. We have also provided NHS Education for Scotland with more than £30 million in 2025-26 to continue multidisciplinary education and training and to support workforce expansion.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its international strategy, how and by what mechanisms it is engaging with the Governments of other European nations. (S6O- 05029)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the closure of any jobcentres in Scotland. (S6O-05010)”
“New figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that Scotland has the lowest rate of train cancellations in the United Kingdom. Can the First Minister advise what assessment the Scottish Government has made of those findings? How is the Scottish National Party Scottish Government investing in our publicly owned rail services to deliver the best services for rail passengers in Scotland?”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it supports youth employment in the Rutherglen constituency, including through employability services. (S6O- 04984)”