Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08950, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on responding to the challenges of new psychoactive substances...

The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Roseanna Cunningham) SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer—my device is charging as I speak. I remind members that we live in a time when the international drug market is changing profou...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Can the minister tell us when the fieldwork will start for SALSUS?

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I will advise the member separately on precisely when the fieldwork will be done. I think that the survey is done biannually, so probably the fieldwork will ...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to take part in the debate, as it is important that we highlight the issue in Parliament. As we know, human beings have always had a propensity ...

Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) SNP

I am conscious that the lady did more chemistry than I did, but I know where she did it because I did it at the same place. Surely one of the realities of or...

Elaine Murray Lab

That is absolutely correct. There will always be other substances in these products. They might not be active but we do not know that, and because we have no...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Although I can claim to have a higher in chemistry, I cannot claim to have the depth of knowledge of Elaine Murray or even Nigel Don, who intervened on her. ...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

One thing that can be said about the rise of new psychoactive substances is that there is unanimity inside and outwith the Parliament both in the recognition...

Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am grateful to the minister for outlining the understanding that the Government has developed in relation to new psychoactive substances. I also acknowledg...

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) SNP

We should be grateful for that contribution from Graeme Pearson, in which he shared his experience from his former role in the then Scottish Crime and Drug E...

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

I, too, am grateful to the minister for arranging this debate and for providing an update on how the Scottish Government is seeking to confront the challenge...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I thank the minister and fellow members for their speeches, which have been constructive. We all agree that something has to be done about new psychoactive s...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

We live in an increasingly complex world. Global trade and communications have changed so much about the way we live and the nature of the challenges that so...

Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

As other members have said, the issue is complex. It is fair to say that, if there were a simple solution to it, we would probably have arrived at it by now....

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Drugs policy is very much on my mind at the moment, not least because I am halfway through season 3 of “Breaking Bad”, which I am sure that many members are ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

I call Dennis Robertson. 16:23

Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP) SNP

I would have been happy to stay seated and let Kezia Dugdale continue. The debate has been interesting and consensual. We have heard that we have many more ...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

As many colleagues have said, the issue is complicated, and we are all a bit wiser thanks to the briefings that we have had from a number of organisations. H...

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

We have heard many excellent speeches. I welcome the debate. Kezia Dugdale made a good point about the term “legal high”. We do not want to be seen to be ad...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

This has been a really constructive debate that many members have added to through their expertise and learning. I hope that the minister has found it helpfu...

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

I call Roseanna Cunningham to wind up. Ms Cunningham, if you could continue until 5 pm I would be obliged. 16:51

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I thank members for their valuable contributions this afternoon, which have highlighted the complexity of the issue. Between us we have covered every potenti...

The Presiding Officer NPA

You can sit down slowly in the next five seconds.

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer—I hope that the Presiding Officers have enjoyed the debate too. Applause.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Ms Cunningham, I am obliged.