Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2012
21 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Families
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 past year, since I was elected, many people in Dundee have told me that the Parliament should make drug misuse one of its biggest priorities as they see the devastating effects that it has on the community, so I am very pleased to speak in the debate.
Labour’s amendment highlights—in addition to the Grampian Family Support Forum, which does such good work—the work of organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs that do similar work throughout the country. I know that SFAD has, in Dundee, been particularly active and successful in integrating the needs of families who are affected by drugs into the recovery process.
I will touch on a few speeches. Dr Simpson—as always—made a good contribution, and his call for further work on bereavement counselling for families who lose loved ones to drugs is, I hope, an issue that the minister will pick up on in her closing remarks.
Kezia Dugdale called for more naloxone programmes across the country. Mary Scanlon’s intervention about the mental health issues underlying many people’s addictions was pertinent and is, I hope, an issue that we might debate in the future.
Neil Bibby made a good opening speech on the effects on children. That is certainly the drugs issue that is closest to my heart, and I hear so many stories about it in my home city. He also raised the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide financial support for kinship carers. I hope that that, too, is an issue that the minister will address.
Kenneth Gibson made a good contribution on the further work that should be done to reduce long-term methadone dependency. I know that there are a number of projects across the country that are seeking to do that, but it is an area that the Government should examine more closely.
I was struck by the focus on families. I know the importance of that network, but it would be remiss of members to forget the drug addicts who do not have family support and, who, as a result of poverty, joblessness and homelessness, are alone and struggling with their addictions. I hope that that is also a subject that we can bring back to the chamber.
We should not forget the causes of drug addiction in our communities: the poverty and unemployment that lead to a cycle of hopelessness and no options, and then to desperation for a way out that can lead to dependence on drugs. Neither should we forget the lost generation of young parents and the children—some of whom also fall victim to drugs—who are living with grandparents, or the constituents who, as I said, see the devastating effects on their communities and plead with me to make the fight on drugs the priority of the Parliament.
I commend, on behalf of Labour, the work of people all over the country who work with the excellent family support services that were referred to by Nanette Milne. The selfless nature of the work is what sustains affected families and the projects. I commend Nanette Milne’s motion, and I lend Labour’s support to it.
10:13
Labour’s amendment highlights—in addition to the Grampian Family Support Forum, which does such good work—the work of organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs that do similar work throughout the country. I know that SFAD has, in Dundee, been particularly active and successful in integrating the needs of families who are affected by drugs into the recovery process.
I will touch on a few speeches. Dr Simpson—as always—made a good contribution, and his call for further work on bereavement counselling for families who lose loved ones to drugs is, I hope, an issue that the minister will pick up on in her closing remarks.
Kezia Dugdale called for more naloxone programmes across the country. Mary Scanlon’s intervention about the mental health issues underlying many people’s addictions was pertinent and is, I hope, an issue that we might debate in the future.
Neil Bibby made a good opening speech on the effects on children. That is certainly the drugs issue that is closest to my heart, and I hear so many stories about it in my home city. He also raised the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide financial support for kinship carers. I hope that that, too, is an issue that the minister will address.
Kenneth Gibson made a good contribution on the further work that should be done to reduce long-term methadone dependency. I know that there are a number of projects across the country that are seeking to do that, but it is an area that the Government should examine more closely.
I was struck by the focus on families. I know the importance of that network, but it would be remiss of members to forget the drug addicts who do not have family support and, who, as a result of poverty, joblessness and homelessness, are alone and struggling with their addictions. I hope that that is also a subject that we can bring back to the chamber.
We should not forget the causes of drug addiction in our communities: the poverty and unemployment that lead to a cycle of hopelessness and no options, and then to desperation for a way out that can lead to dependence on drugs. Neither should we forget the lost generation of young parents and the children—some of whom also fall victim to drugs—who are living with grandparents, or the constituents who, as I said, see the devastating effects on their communities and plead with me to make the fight on drugs the priority of the Parliament.
I commend, on behalf of Labour, the work of people all over the country who work with the excellent family support services that were referred to by Nanette Milne. The selfless nature of the work is what sustains affected families and the projects. I commend Nanette Milne’s motion, and I lend Labour’s support to it.
10:13
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...