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 5 of 9.
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect my app. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Haughey. We will ensure that that is recorded.”
“SPCB-supported bodies come at a significant cost to the public purse, and we must be confident that their existence is justifiable, offers value for money and is effectively improving lives and people’s experiences of services. I thank the committee and its clerks for their work on the issue and commend their report. I hope that the committee’s recommendations will gain cross-party support. 16:21”
“If it has a public-facing role, it must also be designed to ensure” digital and physical accessibility so that people “who require its services or support can engage with it promptly, effectively, and without unnecessary barriers.” Finally, I welcome the committee’s recommendations that, in the next parliamentary session, there should be a committee with specific responsibility for scrutinising SPCB-supported bodies. We all know how busy our existing committees are and the level of demand that is placed on committee time with legislation, budget scrutiny and other inquiries. A dedicated committee with a remit to hold those bodies to account and to scrutinise their effectiveness or otherwise would have the time and scope to look in detail at the work that they do.”
“I am sure that this new commissioner’s office, as it beds in, will have opportunities for public engagement and to raise awareness about the bounds of its remit. However, that is an example of how increasing the number of SPCB-supported bodies risks causing confusion and unnecessary complexity for people who are often experiencing a very difficult time in their lives and are seeking help, support and redress. With that in mind, I particularly welcome the recommendations in paragraph 150 of the committee’s report on the need for simplicity and accessibility. It states: “The body’s purpose must be easily understandable to the public.”
“The creation of the victims and witnesses commissioner responds directly to calls for change from victims and bereaved families. That is a key point, which I have reflected on in the light of the appointment of the new Patient Safety Commissioner. We will all have raised concerns on behalf of constituents about healthcare issues, and the new commissioner will play a vital role in advocating for systematic improvement in safety. However, I wonder how much the public currently know about the new commissioner’s remit. Specifically, a shared understanding needs to be developed that the Patient Safety Commissioner will not undertake casework, complaints or advocacy on behalf of individuals or families.”
“The newly appointed commissioner will play a vital role as an independent public advocate for us all as national health service patients. Just yesterday, I was pleased to vote at stage 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill in support of the establishment of a victims and witnesses commissioner. If the Parliament accepts the committee’s recommendations that we are discussing in the debate, those recommendations would of course be adhered to in the establishment of that post. Of particular relevance are the recommendations on the requirements for a clear functional need for any role and a clearly defined remit. As we know, the establishment of the victims and witnesses commissioner has strong stakeholder support, particularly for their ability to hold the Scottish Government and criminal justice bodies to account.”
“I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to a strategic mapping exercise to identify the functions of all Scottish public bodies and any overlap to fully inform decisions on future size, structure and coherence. In my role as convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I was recently involved in the recruitment process to appoint the first Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland, which is a role that was approved by the Parliament in the week of the Cumberlege report. Among other functions that are attached to their role, they have powers to investigate healthcare safety issues, to amplify patients’ voices, to report on safety issues and to make recommendations for how those should be addressed.”
“I thank the committee for its work on this important topic and for its comprehensive and detailed report. The on-going requests from organisations, individuals and members’ bills seeking to significantly increase the number of commissioners and, thereby, SPCB-supported bodies, has caused me great concern, so I could not agree more with the report’s conclusions that any future proposals for new bodies and roles must satisfy the two-tier criteria of justification and effectiveness tests. The landscape is already complex, as we have heard from other members. Many people are unclear about the remits of the SPCB-supported bodies; how they can access and use their services; and what, if any, support the bodies can offer individuals.”
“The social impact of hospital at home on those communities can be even greater than on typical urban areas, because it enables people to stay at home and in their own community and to avoid being transported outwith their community and away from family and friends.”
“Neil Gray: Clare Haughey is absolutely right about the appreciation among patients and staff for the expansion of the hospital at home service, which has been supported this year by a share of £100 million as part of the 2025-26 budget to reduce waiting times and delayed discharges, thereby shifting the balance of care from acute to community. That funding will support boards with the additional up-front costs associated with the setting up of services and work is well under way to increase hospital at home provision to 2,000 beds by the end of 2026, making it Scotland’s biggest hospital and meaning that more people can receive hospital-level care in their own homes. I have also commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to support integration authorities to adapt hospital at home to rural and island communities.”
“I remind members that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The hospital at home service in Scotland has been welcomed by patients who receive hospital-level care in their own homes, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government has committed to expanding it. It is arguably most valuable in rural and island communities, where healthcare facilities might be far away. Will the cabinet secretary set out how patients in those communities are already benefiting and what more we can expect as the service grows?”
“I understand that GFG is considering its strategic options for the site and recognises the environmental responsibilities associated with it. We will carefully consider that when assessing its options for the future of the site.”
“The Clydebridge works, which the minister referenced in his statement, is in my Rutherglen constituency. It has not been fully operational for a number of years, but it occupies a substantial footprint in Cambuslang. Constituents have raised with me their concerns about various issues, including historical land contamination and the impact that that could have on alternative use of the land and on the local environment. Will the minister advise what, if any, discussions have taken place on the future of the site? Ivan McKee: I appreciate that Clare Haughey’s constituents will be concerned about the status of the Clydebridge site. We engage regularly with GFG at group level and management level on Clydebridge, and I discussed the matter with Geoff Cable of GFG Alliance when I met him on Tuesday.”
“The harm-reduction advice is that people should take the smallest amount that they can, leave as long as they can between doses and ensure that there are people around who can respond in the event of an emergency. I urge anyone who carries naloxone to consider carrying extra life-saving kits with them. We know that, because of the high potency of nitazenes, repeat doses of naloxone are very likely to be required.”
“They can be hundreds of times more potent than heroin, and they can increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death. That is what we are seeing in our early statistics from the start of this year. We are working with partners to communicate vital information and advice. I would encourage anyone who might be affected to familiarise themselves with that advice, including the new nitazene alert that was issued by Public Health Scotland on 12 August. The alert stresses that, although there is absolutely “no safe way to take nitazenes ... There are ways to reduce the risk of harm and overdose”. The drug that has been purchased might not always be the drug that it is expected to be.”
“I remind members that I am employed as a bank nurse by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The rise in the use of synthetic drugs is a concern. As has been clear through the RADAR system, nitazenes and synthetic opioids are highly dangerous because of their potency. Will the minister outline what steps can be taken to reduce the risk of overdose—for example, through the use of naloxone kits? How can members help to inform people about the risks that are posed? Maree Todd: The member is absolutely correct that the increased prevalence of new synthetic substances such as nitazenes is of real concern, not just here in Scotland but across the whole UK and globally. We are working hard to respond to the growing threat from those highly dangerous synthetic substances.”
“As an independent nation, we could do so much more, and that is what the SNP is fighting for. Through our actions and our vision over the next year, we will show that independence is the fresh start that Scotland needs. 16:13”
“With the powers available to us via this Parliament, the SNP Government is taking action to keep more money in people’s pockets through these tough times. Whether we are talking about social security support that is available only in Scotland, the expansion of free school meals, funded childcare worth £6,000 per year, free prescriptions and eye appointments, free university tuition, free bus travel for 2.3 million people or scrapping peak rail fares, that action is making a difference to families across the country. The SNP Government is saving people money, but the UK Government is doing nothing to help people in our communities with soaring bills. This is a story of action versus distraction, and the SNP has chosen action, which demonstrates what happens when decisions for Scotland can be— and are—made in Scotland.”
“In South Lanarkshire, where my Rutherglen constituency is based, more than 20,000 children and young people are benefiting from the Scottish child payment. More than 21,500 children and young people received best start grant and best start food payments. Those are families in our communities who are getting money directly in their pockets, which eases their household pressures. That is what tackling child poverty head on looks like. Although Labour continues to sit on its hands at Westminster, refusing to reverse the cruel two-child cap, which is widely recognised as one of the biggest drivers of child poverty, the SNP has taken action to effectively scrap that cruel policy in Scotland from next March.”
“The Trussell Trust praised the payment as an example of “an important lever for reducing the need for food banks” by lifting families out of the deep poverty that leads to their use. The report found evidence that the Scottish child payment “successfully reduced food bank usage” for single-adult households with children, households with three or more children and those with children aged five to 16. Although that research was exploratory in nature, the results are very promising and give us reason for optimism for when larger data sets are available. We are talking about breaking cycles of deep poverty and allowing families not just to pay for essential items and live with more dignity and freedom but to participate in more opportunities and to thrive.”
“Research led by Professor Ruth Patrick shows that the Labour Westminster Government could cut child poverty in the UK by a sixth if it were to match Scotland’s investment in social security. That represents 700,000 children who would be lifted out of poverty overnight. We have to ask the question: what is stopping the Labour Government? The progress that Scotland has made on driving down poverty rates shows that another way is possible if the political will is there. Last week, I visited Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank in my constituency to meet the new manager and to learn more about its upcoming move. With that visit and today’s debate in mind, I was very interested to read a report on the Scottish child payment that the Trussell Trust commissioned from the Fraser of Allander Institute.”
“Today, I will expand on one of those points: child poverty. The persistence of child poverty is testament to how families across the UK and the whole of Scotland have been absolutely failed by Westminster. It should be a mark of shame for the Labour Government that child poverty is rising in the rest of the UK and is expected to hit record highs by the end of this Westminster session. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the First Minister has said that the eradication of child poverty is his single most important objective, and the Scottish Government is taking action and turning the tide. Organisations such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have highlighted SNP policies such as the Scottish child payment and the mitigation of the two-child limit as ones that see Scotland bucking the trend.”
“They have blocked compensation for the women against state pension inequality—the WASPI women. They have slashed international aid. They have tried to introduce billions of pounds-worth of cuts to disabled people and imposed a tax on jobs and public services by hiking employer national insurance contributions. The pockets of the young, the poor, the disabled and the elderly have been raided under Labour, and speculation is mounting that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is set to announce another wave of tax rises and spending cuts. We are only just into September, and I am already hearing from constituents who are worried about yet another rise in energy bills. Those are the same constituents who had Labour leaflets pushed through their doors, promising that their bills would go down by £300.”
“Today, too many households are still struggling with the cost of food, energy bills and everyday essentials. Decisions that are taken at Westminster continue to make life more difficult for families, communities and businesses across the country. They have faced years of austerity, a hard Brexit that has been imposed on Scotland, and completely and utterly catastrophic economic mismanagement by successive UK Governments. No doubt my Scottish Labour colleagues who sit to my right will again try to distance themselves from the billions of pounds-worth of cuts made by their UK Labour colleagues, but I will set the scene with a quick rundown of just some of their greatest hits. They have refused to end the two-child benefit cap, and so have pushed more children into poverty.”
“It is welcome that data published this morning shows an increase in the NHS whole-time equivalent workforce since last year, and a 16.6 per cent increase in headcount over the past decade. Last week, we saw an increase in the number of new paramedics, and our GP whole- time equivalent workforce has grown by 4 per cent over the past year, which is the first such increase since 2019. We will continue to invest in our NHS and our incredible staff so that they can continue to deliver an NHS for the people of”
“I remind members that I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I welcome the progress that the Scottish Government has made in reducing waiting lists, and it is disappointing that Labour consistently talks down our national health service and our hard-working staff. In that vein, what can the cabinet secretary say about the recent figures in relation to the number of GPs, paramedics and the wider NHS workforce? Neil Gray: I am absolutely committed to our workforce. It is the greatest asset of our health and care services. I remain extremely grateful for the daily contribution that it makes to providing high- quality services to patients across Scotland.”
“Others have told me that they will now need to take two or three buses to get to their work or face a long walk to a stop, either because their bus is disappearing altogether or because its hours are being drastically reduced. At the same time, South Lanarkshire Council is cutting school bus services to around 8,000 school pupils. In a letter to families in Cambuslang, the number 65 bus was cited as an alternative means of getting to school from August this year. As if it was not bad enough that they are losing their school transport, those families are feeling abandoned yet again. It is not surprising that the idea that the removal of the number 65 is somehow positive news for greater Glasgow as a whole has been met with much cynicism and anger in my constituency.”
“It also includes a list of alternative journey options, which include the number 21 service. Since that announcement, my constituency office has been flooded with calls and messages from constituents who are deeply worried and angry about the proposals. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have been in touch with me over the past week to share their concerns and experiences. Many of them have made the point that the number 21 service, which is one of the apparent alternatives, is also subject to service reductions, with changes to its frequency and running times. Some have described the number 65 service as a lifeline that allows them to access vital services, including many disabled or elderly residents who are set to lose their only route to town centres.”
“I thank Patrick Harvie for bringing this debate to the chamber. It has proved to be timely for residents in my Rutherglen constituency. At its heart, this debate is about people. It is about how our communities operate and thrive, and how they access services, employment, education and leisure. Our communities should have the assurance and confidence that our bus networks are affordable, green and a reliable alternative to cars. Last week, I received notification from First Bus that it is completely withdrawing from service the number 65 bus between Glasgow city centre and Halfway in Cambuslang. The letter that I received about the cut states that the withdrawal of the service will allow the company to improve timetables across other parts of greater Glasgow.”
“On behalf of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I hope that the bill’s provisions will be a positive step in the right direction for Scotland’s social care workforce. I look forward to assisting further scrutiny in that area, where my committee’s remit is engaged. 16:00”
“Although union membership in social care currently sits at around 20 per cent of the workforce, concentrated largely among local government employees, the committee nevertheless welcomes the minister’s commitment to promote increased union membership across the social care sector as a means of improving terms, pay and conditions. That said, we note the minister’s comments that time must now be spent bottoming out the Scottish social care sector’s preference, be that a voluntary arrangement or statutory underpinning. We strongly encourage the Scottish Government to continue to do its best to seek consensus with relevant stakeholders, so that we can achieve better and fairer work conditions for those in the social care sector, which are arguably long overdue.”
“Although I am unable to give a summary of the extensive evidence that was received regarding the supplementary LCM and the bill more generally, our report contains a comprehensive overview of the key points that were raised during those sessions. That said, one of the main themes that echoed throughout was the need for continued collaboration when it comes to creating an effective negotiating body for social care. As is highlighted in our report, members were keen to hear more about the on-going discussions with trade unions, as well as the work of the fair work in social care group. I am grateful to the then Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP, and her supporting officials for speaking to the supplementary LCM and addressing the points that were raised by stakeholders in evidence to the committee.”
“The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee recognises the importance of the bill and, more importantly, the need for comprehensive scrutiny of the provisions that require legislative consent. Although employment law is a reserved matter, the provisions in the bill will have massive implications for Scotland’s workforce, particularly in social care. That is why we sought extensive evidence from stakeholders, both in written form and in oral evidence to the committee. To that end, I thank the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Glasgow City Council, Health and Social Care Scotland, Scottish Care, the Scottish Social Services Council and Social Work Scotland for their engagement on the matter. I give special thanks to the witnesses who gave oral evidence on 20 May.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to speak to the legislative consent motion on the Employment Rights Bill, as convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. As members will be aware, on 10 June 2025, the committee published its report on the supplementary legislative consent memorandum as it relates to the bill. That was triggered due to the provisions in the bill regarding social care negotiating bodies, as well as various other amendments that fell under the health and social care remit. I am pleased to say that a majority of committee members recommended that the subsequent draft supplementary motion be agreed by Parliament.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the latest Scottish crime and justice survey, which included for the first time new questions around crimes of fraud and computer misuse. (S6O-04849)”
“However, the work that is highlighted in the statement will move us closer to the change that we all want, and I welcome its publication. 15:58”
“It can feel like the political headwinds are trying to undermine the hard-won progress that has been made.” We must keep up the momentum. In that context, I am pleased that the Scottish Government recognises that there is more work to be done to improve the collection, analysis and use of evidence on gender equality, and that it is committed to doing that and developing an equality strategy for women and girls. The strategy will be shaped by the voices of women and girls in a tangible way and it will provide a vehicle to accelerate the pace of progress and enable greater accountability. Women in Scotland have faced inequality for generations, and it can feel as if change in the societal, cultural and institutional structures that maintain that inequality is slow.”
“The local councillors who noticed the omission of gender from the impact assessment and pressed officers for it to be included should be commended, but it should not have happened. That underlines the necessity and urgency of placing equality at the centre of our policies and decision making and ensuring that it is taken into account in all actions in all spheres of government. Gender equality is an unwon case both in Scotland and around the world. That statement does not minimise the positive changes or the progress that we have made as a Parliament and as a society, but it is a reminder that we must not be complacent. It is really important to acknowledge the First Minister’s comments in the introduction to the annual statement: “this feels like a very precarious time for equality ...”
“Recently, I was shocked when South Lanarkshire Council, in whose area my Rutherglen constituency is located, published an impact assessment on proposed changes to school transport that did not consider the different impacts that they would have on women. When families began to share their stories and their concerns, it became abundantly clear that women will be disproportionately adversely affected by the cuts that will—unfortunately—come into force in August. For example, many women in my constituency have told me of their concerns about how changes to transport arrangements for their children will affect their ability to work or to fit their work around their caring responsibilities. That will, of course, have potentially far-reaching consequences for everyone in their families.”
“The SNP has a proud record of fighting for gender equality while in government, from action on equal pay and support for women returning to the workplace to action on period poverty and the introduction of “Equally Safe”, which is the strategy to combat all forms of violence against women and girls. Policies such as the universal provision of 1,140 hours of high-quality early learning and childcare are critical to supporting women into work, supporting them to stay in work and keeping families out of poverty. I particularly welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to intersectional gender budgeting to help us to improve our thinking about how spending and revenue raising impact men and women differently and whether we can use our budget processes to reduce gender inequality.”
“I welcome the publication of the Government’s first annual statement on gender policy coherence, which was a recommendation from the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls. I commend the members of the council and the members of the empowering women panel for sharing their expertise and vision to get us to this point. Some of the most difficult challenges that have impacted us all in recent years, from the cost of living crisis to the pandemic, have had a disproportionate impact on certain groups in our communities, including women. Women’s poverty and child poverty are intrinsically linked, and women are more likely to use and work for public services, so getting our policies right for women—and for the most disadvantaged women—means better outcomes for everyone.”
“We are investing more in that service to enable that to happen. The provision of digital services for service users is hugely important. The digital strategy, which will be published soon in collaboration with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, will identify how we are taking that work forward. Ensuring that we use digital resources across the piece is very important, as we must ensure that we do not duplicate digital skills in different parts of the public sector. It is critical that we ensure visibility of the digital skills and that we reuse code components to accelerate the deployment of digital solutions.”
“Modernisation and increased efficiency must be at the heart of our efforts to reform public services, and we must take advantage of the advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence in order to do that. Can the minister outline what steps the Scottish Government is taking to harness the potential of technology to future proof our services? Ivan McKee: Digital underpins a lot of the work that we are doing and is very important. I do not think that it is the most important thing—culture, leadership and the way in which money flows are more important—but it is absolutely key. Our centre for intelligent automation in Government, which provides services across the public sector, has saved upwards of £10 million already; it has implemented dozens of projects, with several hundred more in the hopper.”
“We have established a new GP enhanced service from 2025-2026 to support 100,000 patients who are at risk of developing CVD. We will also bring forward funding for a frailty enhanced service. We are investing £4.5 million over three years to tackle type 2 diabetes. The population health framework is a cross- Government, whole-society approach to creating health. We are using the totality of public expenditure and hard-wiring prevention into our systems—through planning, delivery, budgets and accountability—to reduce the demand that such issues can cause in our system.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests—I hold a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. As the cabinet secretary outlined in his statement, we know that taking preventative action at any point of a person’s health or care needs can make a significant difference. Will he advise how Scottish Government investment is helping to expand targeted interventions across Scotland, particularly for cardiovascular disease and frailty prevention, and how the population health framework will complement those initiatives? Neil Gray: We have launched the cardiovascular disease risk factors programme to improve CVD outcomes, with an aim of reducing avoidable CVD deaths by 20 per cent in 20 years.”
“We are also investing up to £500 million over five years to support a highly productive offshore wind economy and to leverage additional private investment in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities that are critical to growing the sector. We are also supporting improvements to electricity generation and network asset management, including network charging and access arrangements that will encourage the deployment and viability of renewables projects in”
“The statistics show a substantial reduction in emissions from electricity generation as we realise Scotland’s renewable energy potential. Can the minister provide an update on the Scottish Government’s work to promote and develop green energy projects and supply chains in Scotland? Alasdair Allan: Our green industrial strategy seeks to ensure that Scotland secures the enormous economic opportunity that the transition presents in areas such as offshore wind, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and hydrogen. To support that, we are enabling manufacturing to grow and transition through our £75 million investment in the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.”
“Kate Forbes: Yes, I absolutely agree with the member. We are deeply opposed to those cuts, and we urge the UK Government to listen to organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation, which warns that they could worsen the wellbeing of disabled people. We believe that the UK Government should abandon those reforms. I also agree that anyone who wants to secure and sustain work should be supported. Our 2025- 26 budget includes £90 million for devolved employability services that ensure that person- centred, place-based support is in place right across the 32 local authority areas, and we are introducing specialist employment support to enhance existing provision and support more disabled people into meaningful employment.”
“According to the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, Labour’s plans to press on with disability benefit cuts will lead to a false economy and will, ultimately, take people out of work, because many will lose payments that help them to live a more independent life and contribute to the Scottish economy. Many of my Rutherglen constituents are very concerned about how they will be impacted financially by those callous cuts—cuts that they might have expected from a Tory Government, but certainly not from a Labour one. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that Labour must urgently abandon those plans and that anyone who wants to secure and sustain employment should be able and supported to do so, regardless of disability? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the Deputy First Minister to respond on matters for which she is responsible.”
“The core elements of Anne’s law are already in place through guidance and strengthened health and social care standards on visiting for care homes, but the Government is committed to enshrining that in legislation. Ultimately, all of us in the Parliament share a common goal. We all want everyone to have access to consistently high-quality social care support across Scotland, whenever and wherever they might need it, and we want our social care workforce to flourish. That goal is also shared by the social care sector, the public, families, their loved ones and, most importantly, those whose lives and wellbeing depend on us getting this right. So, let us get on with it. 18:30”