Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2012
21 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Families
I am glad that Nanette Milne managed to bring the topic to the chamber as a Conservative business debate this morning; it was originally going to be a members’ business debate. It is an opportunity for us to discuss and consider how we can best support the organisations in our communities that are on the front line of supporting people who have addictions, and their families.
In her motion, Nanette Milne cites the Grampian Family Support Forum and in her speech she mentioned Sheila McKay. I first met Sheila McKay when I was a regional member. For Sheila, one meeting was not, as a woman from Banffshire, enough, of course. As the minister knows, we Banffshire women can be thrawn and persistent. We had several meetings in Aberdeen and—as Nanette Milne mentioned—in Parliament, not just with the Grampian forum but with other groups in the north-east that are involved in such work. Sheila McKay is still working—as Dr Simpson mentioned—on extending the pool of people who are allowed to administer naloxone.
Although levels of illegal drug use are at their lowest for several years and are still in decline, we cannot underestimate the devastating effects that drugs still have on individuals, families and communities. Virtually every family in the country is now affected in some way or another by drug misuse; my family has certainly not escaped it.
The Grampian Family Support Forum has benefited from administrative and communications assistance from the alcohol and drugs partnership that covers Moray, Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Government’s recovery-focused approach to tackling drug use has helped thousands, and that progress is supported by the funding that is provided by many organisations that facilitate recovery, such as the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and the Grampian Family Support Forum. All those organisations deserve praise for their efforts, not only in helping and advising those who have addiction problems and their families, but in assisting in community action, education programmes and—as other members have mentioned—combating the stigma that attaches to addiction issues. Those organisations have been feeding back to Government and parliamentarians their information and experiences, and their opinions on the effectiveness of the current strategy and how progress can be continued. That highlights the invaluable work that they do, which is carried out as much in private as it is in public.
Worryingly, several of those organisations have heavily criticised the United Kingdom Government’s welfare cuts which, they tell us, threaten the support systems that exist and the delicate balance in many families and communities that are in sensitive situations regarding addiction and drugs.
The Scottish Drugs Forum and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs have spoken out against the UK Government’s proposed changes to how claimants with drug or alcohol problems can receive benefits, which threaten to undermine the progress that has been made. Both organisations have highlighted how Westminster’s proposals to hold claimants hostage over their benefits, pending their drug and alcohol addiction treatment, threaten to have serious knock-on effects on families and children.
The recovery happens event was a great example of how the expertise that such groups provide is fed back into the development of national and Government strategy. Neil Bibby mentioned kinship carers. I am assisting a number of grannies who are, as a result of the drug abuse of their child or their child’s partner, caring for their small grandchildren. One of the main messages that came from the recovery happens event was on the importance of a family-focused approach to recovery and addiction support. Families from across Scotland are keen to support one another and to share their experiences and knowledge. I welcome the debate as a way of thanking them.
09:50
In her motion, Nanette Milne cites the Grampian Family Support Forum and in her speech she mentioned Sheila McKay. I first met Sheila McKay when I was a regional member. For Sheila, one meeting was not, as a woman from Banffshire, enough, of course. As the minister knows, we Banffshire women can be thrawn and persistent. We had several meetings in Aberdeen and—as Nanette Milne mentioned—in Parliament, not just with the Grampian forum but with other groups in the north-east that are involved in such work. Sheila McKay is still working—as Dr Simpson mentioned—on extending the pool of people who are allowed to administer naloxone.
Although levels of illegal drug use are at their lowest for several years and are still in decline, we cannot underestimate the devastating effects that drugs still have on individuals, families and communities. Virtually every family in the country is now affected in some way or another by drug misuse; my family has certainly not escaped it.
The Grampian Family Support Forum has benefited from administrative and communications assistance from the alcohol and drugs partnership that covers Moray, Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Government’s recovery-focused approach to tackling drug use has helped thousands, and that progress is supported by the funding that is provided by many organisations that facilitate recovery, such as the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and the Grampian Family Support Forum. All those organisations deserve praise for their efforts, not only in helping and advising those who have addiction problems and their families, but in assisting in community action, education programmes and—as other members have mentioned—combating the stigma that attaches to addiction issues. Those organisations have been feeding back to Government and parliamentarians their information and experiences, and their opinions on the effectiveness of the current strategy and how progress can be continued. That highlights the invaluable work that they do, which is carried out as much in private as it is in public.
Worryingly, several of those organisations have heavily criticised the United Kingdom Government’s welfare cuts which, they tell us, threaten the support systems that exist and the delicate balance in many families and communities that are in sensitive situations regarding addiction and drugs.
The Scottish Drugs Forum and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs have spoken out against the UK Government’s proposed changes to how claimants with drug or alcohol problems can receive benefits, which threaten to undermine the progress that has been made. Both organisations have highlighted how Westminster’s proposals to hold claimants hostage over their benefits, pending their drug and alcohol addiction treatment, threaten to have serious knock-on effects on families and children.
The recovery happens event was a great example of how the expertise that such groups provide is fed back into the development of national and Government strategy. Neil Bibby mentioned kinship carers. I am assisting a number of grannies who are, as a result of the drug abuse of their child or their child’s partner, caring for their small grandchildren. One of the main messages that came from the recovery happens event was on the importance of a family-focused approach to recovery and addiction support. Families from across Scotland are keen to support one another and to share their experiences and knowledge. I welcome the debate as a way of thanking them.
09:50
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03394, in the name of Nanette Milne, on families. I remind all members that time is extrem...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I begin by indicating that we are happy to accept both amendments.It is well recognised that Scotland still has an enormous problem with drug addiction, whic...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Roseanna Cunningham to speak to and move amendment S4M-03394.1. Minister, you have no more than seven minutes.09:25
The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
I welcome the motion and the Labour amendment. Nanette Milne is absolutely right—the role of families is key to the success of our national drug strategy “Th...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I have listened carefully to the minister’s comments about the recovery programmes, which I fully support, and I support everything that Nanette Milne said, ...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
The member will accept that, in a speech of seven minutes, I cannot touch on every issue, but I am aware of the mental health problems that go along with dru...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Nanette Milne for bringing forward this debate on supporting families who are affected by drugs. It is an important and challenging debate on an issu...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the open debate. I remind everyone that we are tight for time and that speeches will be no more than four minutes long.09:37
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Nanette Milne for raising an important issue that, such is the scale of substance misuse in our nation, is—I am sorry to say—relevant to every member...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The debate is likely to be consensual, which reflects the fact that under the previous minister in the previous parliamentary session agreement on the recove...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member needs to wind up.
Dr Simpson
Lab
We should praise Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, welcome the work that is done by the Scottish Drugs Forum and call on the Government to continue its co...
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
I am glad that Nanette Milne managed to bring the topic to the chamber as a Conservative business debate this morning; it was originally going to be a member...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The debate has already shown that there is not an MSP in the chamber or anyone who is involved in making policy on children who does not believe that good-qu...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Nanette Milne on bringing this important debate to the chamber. I know that her original intention was to have a members’ business debate on t...
Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Not long after my election, I took on the role of co-convener of the cross-party group on drug and alcohol misuse, and through it I have learned a tremendous...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Kezia Dugdale for her informative speech—I will certainly visit the cafe that is just around the corner from here. I also thank Nanette Milne for ini...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
I, too, thank the Conservatives for using their debating time this morning to highlight the role of families who are in recovery from drug abuse and—in parti...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The debate has been very good, and it is timely and worth while. I thank Nanette Milne and the Conservatives for bringing the topic to the chamber. In the pa...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I thank members for the many thoughtful contributions on a significant issue affecting families in Scotland. One of the essential values of the Scottish Parl...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank Nanette Milne for moving the motion and allowing a debate on one of the biggest issues that Scotland faces today. As Richard Simpson said, the debate...