Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 May 2012
24 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill
What Jackie Baillie does not tell members is that, before saying that, Yvette Cooper said that she supported minimum pricing. That is the position of Yvette Cooper and of Labour south of the border. No matter how hard Scottish Labour tries to find the fig leaf to hide its embarrassment, its position is one of isolation and—if it has any sense—complete embarrassment and shame. However, it is not too late for Labour members to redeem themselves at 5 o’clock by joining the consensus in favour of the policy.
Having used five minutes of my generous 10 minutes, I will address issues that have arisen in the debate. Early in the debate, people often posed the question why, if we had powers over excise duty, we would not prefer to use excise duty as the best way to address the issue. In answer to that question, I pose a question: if using excise duty is the better way to proceed, why has the UK Government, which has excise duty powers, also opted for minimum pricing? The answer is that the UK Government has come to the same conclusion as we came to, which is that minimum pricing is a more effective way of targeting the cheap, high-strength alcohol that is causing so much damage in our society.
I say to those who are concerned about the impact of minimum pricing on various groups that, as I said during consideration of amendments this afternoon, we will monitor and evaluate the impact and we will consider the effect on people such as those on low incomes, harmful drinkers and young drinkers.
To those who say that the policy is not legal, I reiterate my view that minimum pricing per unit of alcohol complies with European Union law, provided that it is justified on the basis of public health and social grounds. I am confident that the policy is justified in Scotland.
I take the opportunity to tell Parliament that, following the bill’s passage, we will commence the process of EU notification under the technical standards directive. The draft order that sets the price will be notified as soon as possible, with all the accompanying documents, including the bill—or act, as it will be. That process will happen as quickly as possible, and notification will certainly take place well within one month of the bill’s passage today.
Minimum pricing will make a significant difference, but it is not—and I have never argued that it is—a magic bullet. We should not forget that we have in place many other measures to tackle alcohol misuse. The framework for action sets out more than 40 measures that seek to reduce consumption, to support families and communities, to encourage more positive attitudes and positive choices and to improve treatment and support services.
That broader approach also focuses on education, diversionary activity, support for families and preventive measures, such as alcohol brief interventions. We have made record investment of £196 million to tackle alcohol misuse since 2008. The bulk of the funding is being invested in local prevention, treatment and support services. Along with minimum pricing and other measures, such as the approach to quantity discounts and irresponsible promotion of alcohol, that wider package will help to create the cultural shift that is required if we are to change our relationship with alcohol.
The inescapable fact is that alcohol misuse affects each and every one of us. Whether we drink a lot, a little or not at all, each and every one of us pays £900 every year towards the cost of alcohol misuse. That money could be better spent elsewhere.
Last week I announced that I am minded to set the minimum price at 50p per unit. That was not an easy decision, because there is an important balance to be struck between the benefits to public health and the impact on industry. The decision was made after taking account of relevant factors, which have been updated since I proposed a price per unit of alcohol of 45p in September 2010. Factors included the updated modelling that has been carried out by the University of Sheffield, and data on alcohol sales, price bands, affordability and harm. In addition, I took account of the fact that the earliest the policy is likely to be implemented is April 2013.
Taking all those factors into account, 50p per unit is broadly equivalent to the 45p that was announced in 2010. More important, it is estimated that the minimum unit price will deliver significant benefits. I remind the Parliament of those benefits: 60 fewer deaths in the first year, 1,200 fewer alcohol-related illnesses in the first year and 1,600 fewer hospital admissions in the first year. It is also estimated that there will be around 3,500 fewer crimes per year. Over 10 years, we expect 300 fewer deaths per year and nearly 4,000 fewer illnesses and 6,500 fewer hospital admissions.
I absolutely accept that people ask whether the modelling will translate into reality. However, if we think that benefits on anywhere near the scale of those in the model are within our grasp, we have a moral duty to go for them. That is what the Government is doing.
Presiding Officer, I suspect that your generosity is running out, so I will come to a close. Tackling alcohol misuse is one of the most important public health challenges that we face in Scotland. The Parliament has the opportunity today to take a significant step towards reducing alcohol-related harm. I sincerely hope that members of all parties will support the bill and create an historic moment for the public health of Scotland’s people.
It gives me great pleasure to move,
That the Parliament agrees that the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
15:53
Having used five minutes of my generous 10 minutes, I will address issues that have arisen in the debate. Early in the debate, people often posed the question why, if we had powers over excise duty, we would not prefer to use excise duty as the best way to address the issue. In answer to that question, I pose a question: if using excise duty is the better way to proceed, why has the UK Government, which has excise duty powers, also opted for minimum pricing? The answer is that the UK Government has come to the same conclusion as we came to, which is that minimum pricing is a more effective way of targeting the cheap, high-strength alcohol that is causing so much damage in our society.
I say to those who are concerned about the impact of minimum pricing on various groups that, as I said during consideration of amendments this afternoon, we will monitor and evaluate the impact and we will consider the effect on people such as those on low incomes, harmful drinkers and young drinkers.
To those who say that the policy is not legal, I reiterate my view that minimum pricing per unit of alcohol complies with European Union law, provided that it is justified on the basis of public health and social grounds. I am confident that the policy is justified in Scotland.
I take the opportunity to tell Parliament that, following the bill’s passage, we will commence the process of EU notification under the technical standards directive. The draft order that sets the price will be notified as soon as possible, with all the accompanying documents, including the bill—or act, as it will be. That process will happen as quickly as possible, and notification will certainly take place well within one month of the bill’s passage today.
Minimum pricing will make a significant difference, but it is not—and I have never argued that it is—a magic bullet. We should not forget that we have in place many other measures to tackle alcohol misuse. The framework for action sets out more than 40 measures that seek to reduce consumption, to support families and communities, to encourage more positive attitudes and positive choices and to improve treatment and support services.
That broader approach also focuses on education, diversionary activity, support for families and preventive measures, such as alcohol brief interventions. We have made record investment of £196 million to tackle alcohol misuse since 2008. The bulk of the funding is being invested in local prevention, treatment and support services. Along with minimum pricing and other measures, such as the approach to quantity discounts and irresponsible promotion of alcohol, that wider package will help to create the cultural shift that is required if we are to change our relationship with alcohol.
The inescapable fact is that alcohol misuse affects each and every one of us. Whether we drink a lot, a little or not at all, each and every one of us pays £900 every year towards the cost of alcohol misuse. That money could be better spent elsewhere.
Last week I announced that I am minded to set the minimum price at 50p per unit. That was not an easy decision, because there is an important balance to be struck between the benefits to public health and the impact on industry. The decision was made after taking account of relevant factors, which have been updated since I proposed a price per unit of alcohol of 45p in September 2010. Factors included the updated modelling that has been carried out by the University of Sheffield, and data on alcohol sales, price bands, affordability and harm. In addition, I took account of the fact that the earliest the policy is likely to be implemented is April 2013.
Taking all those factors into account, 50p per unit is broadly equivalent to the 45p that was announced in 2010. More important, it is estimated that the minimum unit price will deliver significant benefits. I remind the Parliament of those benefits: 60 fewer deaths in the first year, 1,200 fewer alcohol-related illnesses in the first year and 1,600 fewer hospital admissions in the first year. It is also estimated that there will be around 3,500 fewer crimes per year. Over 10 years, we expect 300 fewer deaths per year and nearly 4,000 fewer illnesses and 6,500 fewer hospital admissions.
I absolutely accept that people ask whether the modelling will translate into reality. However, if we think that benefits on anywhere near the scale of those in the model are within our grasp, we have a moral duty to go for them. That is what the Government is doing.
Presiding Officer, I suspect that your generosity is running out, so I will come to a close. Tackling alcohol misuse is one of the most important public health challenges that we face in Scotland. The Parliament has the opportunity today to take a significant step towards reducing alcohol-related harm. I sincerely hope that members of all parties will support the bill and create an historic moment for the public health of Scotland’s people.
It gives me great pleasure to move,
That the Parliament agrees that the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
15:53
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02967, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill. I call on Nicola...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I wish to advise the Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Alcohol (M...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
If Jackie Baillie wants to comment on Diane Abbott’s support for the Scottish Government, I will be delighted to take an intervention.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for her generosity. First it was the First Minister, and now the Deputy First Minister is following Diane Abbott. I am delighte...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
What Jackie Baillie does not tell members is that, before saying that, Yvette Cooper said that she supported minimum pricing. That is the position of Yvette ...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the stage 3 debate on minimum pricing, and I too record my thanks to all involved.Throughout the passage of...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
Could the member briefly examine whether that figure of 25 per cent is a mean figure across the country? I doubt that it is. I am sure that there are areas o...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I think that the figure varies by income, which I think is the point that the member is making. I am sure that people will look forward to drinking more with...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I am afraid that the member is running out of time.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
—of large supermarkets at the expense of hard-working public services.I move amendment S4M-02967.1, to insert at end:“but, in so doing, strongly believes tha...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Today is a significant day. Alcohol minimum unit pricing has been the centre of debate in the current session and the previous session of Parliament, almost ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the open debate. Speeches should be of four minutes.16:06
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
The arguments against minimum pricing on the basis of potential supermarket profits or increased revenues have been well and truly exposed this afternoon as ...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I wonder if the member would like to answer a question for me. What does he see as the result of this measure? Does he see everyone drinking a little less or...
Bob Doris
SNP
It is not how I see it; it is what the evidence points to, which is that the most harmful drinkers will be most affected by these measures. That is what the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Yes.
Bob Doris
SNP
Oh dear. I will be brief.The health benefits of minimum pricing differ according to which group we are talking about. It is said that minimum pricing will ha...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful to be able to speak in the debate, given that I am not a member of the Health and Sport Committee.I want to look at the bill in a slightly diff...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Jackie Baillie for covering most of the ground on the thinking behind Labour’s approach to the bill. Equally, I thank Sandra White and Bob Doris, who...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The member has no time. He has precisely 10 seconds left.
Graeme Pearson
Lab
I support the amendment in Jackie Baillie’s name.16:19
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I have to say that I do not agree with the cabinet secretary because I do not think that Labour’s pitiful opposition to the bill is a fig leaf so much as it ...
Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
LD
I thank Nicola Sturgeon for pioneering the bill. It is pioneering legislation and she is out there in front, proposing a measure that a lot of people will no...
Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
As a member of the Health and Sport Committee, I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. Alcohol minimum pricing is the latest step to change the dri...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I am very pleased that we are introducing minimum pricing of alcohol. The Scottish Greens have supported the bill in this session and we supported the simila...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the debate that we have had, I welcome the bill and I welcome the fact that, at 5 o’clock tonight, it will become the law of Scotland. I also welco...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
This has been a short but slightly depressing debate in the sense that, even at this late stage, the argument about the bill has continued even though, after...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
In 2001, as the Deputy Minister for Justice, I recognised that Scotland had a growing problem with alcohol and that we were well into the third wave in our h...