Chamber
Plenary, 11 May 2000
11 May 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Drugs Action Plan
Like other members, I welcome the direction of the minister's statement, but the proof of a strategy is in its effective implementation. I especially welcome the fact that policy will be increasingly research and evidence based.
Does the minister agree that our strategy should be based increasingly on the national treatment outcome study, which showed that for every £1 spent on treatment, rehabilitation and after-care, £3 was saved on enforcement? He will also be aware of the even more dramatic figures produced by the Rand Foundation in the United States, which show a return for every $1 spent on enforcement of just 50 cents. I hope that the minister will take that issue on board.
I welcome the extra money for treatment, but does the minister agree that it falls far short of what we need to deal with Scotland's estimated 30,000 plus addicts, 12,500 to 15,000 of whom are in Glasgow? If we are really to tackle the problem, we must spend more on treatment—it is not public spending, but public investment—in view of the fact that addicts acquire illegally £400 million a year to finance their habit. Of that sum, £190 million is acquired in the city of Glasgow alone.
Does the minister agree that we must deal with the inequality of service provision in Scotland? As recently as yesterday, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Drugs Forum testified to that inequality to the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee. I am afraid that treatment services in Scotland are incredibly patchy, as the minister well knows. The Ayrshire and Arran Health Board area, which is demographically similar to Fife, has much better treatment services for drug addicts.
Finally, will the minister give us a detailed breakdown of the £250 million? I do not ask him to do so now, but I should be grateful if he provided us with a detailed breakdown of how that £250 million is spent. Will he also assure us that the prevention and effectiveness unit will not draw resources away from the front line? There are concerns among drug agencies that a lot of money is being spent within the Scottish Executive on the public health policy unit and now on the prevention and effectiveness unit. The money should really go into the front line to help problematic drug misusers.
Does the minister agree that our strategy should be based increasingly on the national treatment outcome study, which showed that for every £1 spent on treatment, rehabilitation and after-care, £3 was saved on enforcement? He will also be aware of the even more dramatic figures produced by the Rand Foundation in the United States, which show a return for every $1 spent on enforcement of just 50 cents. I hope that the minister will take that issue on board.
I welcome the extra money for treatment, but does the minister agree that it falls far short of what we need to deal with Scotland's estimated 30,000 plus addicts, 12,500 to 15,000 of whom are in Glasgow? If we are really to tackle the problem, we must spend more on treatment—it is not public spending, but public investment—in view of the fact that addicts acquire illegally £400 million a year to finance their habit. Of that sum, £190 million is acquired in the city of Glasgow alone.
Does the minister agree that we must deal with the inequality of service provision in Scotland? As recently as yesterday, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Drugs Forum testified to that inequality to the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee. I am afraid that treatment services in Scotland are incredibly patchy, as the minister well knows. The Ayrshire and Arran Health Board area, which is demographically similar to Fife, has much better treatment services for drug addicts.
Finally, will the minister give us a detailed breakdown of the £250 million? I do not ask him to do so now, but I should be grateful if he provided us with a detailed breakdown of how that £250 million is spent. Will he also assure us that the prevention and effectiveness unit will not draw resources away from the front line? There are concerns among drug agencies that a lot of money is being spent within the Scottish Executive on the public health policy unit and now on the prevention and effectiveness unit. The money should really go into the front line to help problematic drug misusers.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The first item of business is a statement by Angus MacKay on the drugs action plan. The minister will take questions at the end of the statement, so there sh...
The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay):
Lab
In January, we debated fully Scotland's drug problem and how the Executive, drug action teams, public bodies and communities in Scotland could combine to tac...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish National party, I welcome the minister's statement, particularly the tone of his language and the emphasis that he placed on preven...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
A substantial amount of the £27 million additional expenditure is now being put into use in the field. The £2 million which I announced today—£1 million for ...
Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con):
Con
I associate myself with some of Fiona Hyslop's comments and thank the minister for the courtesy of his statement. In the debate in January, we said that we w...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
The Executive has sought to stress at every opportunity that we want to follow a balanced strategy that will put proper enforcement measures in place but whi...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Like other members, I welcome the direction of the minister's statement, but the proof of a strategy is in its effective implementation. I especially welcome...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
The thrust of my announcement today is to emphasise that we are looking closely at the treatment and rehabilitation side of the equation. We recognise that, ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I join my colleagues in welcoming the minister's statement as yet another step along the way to developing an effective strategy to deal with a problem that ...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I was taken slightly by surprise by Dr Simpson's final comments. Dr Simpson raised a number of important issues, and I welcome his comments on social inclusi...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
I add my voice to the general welcome for the statement. In particular, I welcome the minister's phrase: "Treatment benefits drug misusers and cuts drug-rela...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I had some interesting experiences when I was present at the drug court, one of which was the judge inviting me to join him at the bar while he was hearing c...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Without making a sour point, I am slightly disappointed by the minister's words. Perhaps that is based on the fact that I recognise the minister's commitment...
Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Yes. I know the point of order; I am listening carefully. You must ask a question, Mr Gallie.
Phil Gallie:
Con
All right. What funding is necessary for the job support scheme that the minister envisages?I go along with Dr Simpson's comments on prisons. When—and in wha...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I think that I mentioned in my statement, and certainly in reply to an earlier question, that the revamped Scottish Prison Service strategy for tackling drug...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We will now have a model question from Margo MacDonald.
Ms MacDonald:
SNP
I will do what other folk have not done: I will ask a question. Will the minister explain exactly what the strategy is for the drugs action plan? As Richard ...
Phil Gallie:
Con
On a point of order.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No. Laughter.
Ms MacDonald:
SNP
Can the minister say this week whether he is satisfied that the research and evidence that is produced for him and on which he builds his strategy is suffici...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I am not sure whether Margo MacDonald was present for the whole debate.
Ms MacDonald:
SNP
I was.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Yes, she was.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
In my statement, I made it clear that we will launch the national drug misuse research programme in the summer. That programme is drawn up not by the Executi...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for his statement. I welcome especially his comments on involving and listening to communities. Having visited DATs around Scotland, is ...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
If I were to single out one drug action team that has been more effective than others in involving communities and user groups, it would be the Glasgow drug ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I apologise to members who have not been called. I have allowed considerable latitude because of the importance of the topic, but I must protect this morning...