Chamber
Plenary, 11 May 2000
11 May 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Drugs Action Plan
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 treatment and rehabilitation in its institutions will be published very shortly. By that, I mean in a matter of weeks; perhaps in months, but more likely in weeks. Members can expect to see that revamped strategy very soon.
I am sorry that Phil Gallie was disappointed in part by the statement. A close look at the statement, and the drugs action plan, shows clear movement. Perhaps the most important aspect of that is the commitment to agreeing specific targets for enforcement, treatment, care, rehabilitation and education, against which the Executive—and the drug action teams and various supporting agencies in the voluntary sector and elsewhere—can be measured. That measurement will be done over a period to see whether we are making progress, and making progress fast enough. That is a new and significant departure, and will impart a far greater sense of urgency to our approach.
The document is explicit, as I was in my statement, about taking forward, for example, on-going education work in primary and secondary schools and adding to that a clear community element and detached youth outreach work, to ensure that those who are most at risk are given the information and support that they require to protect them.
I made an explicit commitment to greater direct drug action team involvement in prison work. I mentioned that we would have drugs strategy co-ordinators in every prison. Those things are immediate and now; they are not planned for some indeterminate point in the future. Some are under way; others will happen very soon.
Beyond that, and perhaps most crucially, apart from the £2 million that I announced today for treatment and rehabilitation, I was explicit about our plans for an expansion in rehabilitation facilities. Short of making a specific announcement about what that will mean on the ground, I could not be much more proactive than I have been today. I hope to come to the chamber in the near future with more detail of what comes out of the budget round and how some of those things are panning out.
I am sorry that Phil Gallie was disappointed in part by the statement. A close look at the statement, and the drugs action plan, shows clear movement. Perhaps the most important aspect of that is the commitment to agreeing specific targets for enforcement, treatment, care, rehabilitation and education, against which the Executive—and the drug action teams and various supporting agencies in the voluntary sector and elsewhere—can be measured. That measurement will be done over a period to see whether we are making progress, and making progress fast enough. That is a new and significant departure, and will impart a far greater sense of urgency to our approach.
The document is explicit, as I was in my statement, about taking forward, for example, on-going education work in primary and secondary schools and adding to that a clear community element and detached youth outreach work, to ensure that those who are most at risk are given the information and support that they require to protect them.
I made an explicit commitment to greater direct drug action team involvement in prison work. I mentioned that we would have drugs strategy co-ordinators in every prison. Those things are immediate and now; they are not planned for some indeterminate point in the future. Some are under way; others will happen very soon.
Beyond that, and perhaps most crucially, apart from the £2 million that I announced today for treatment and rehabilitation, I was explicit about our plans for an expansion in rehabilitation facilities. Short of making a specific announcement about what that will mean on the ground, I could not be much more proactive than I have been today. I hope to come to the chamber in the near future with more detail of what comes out of the budget round and how some of those things are panning out.
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...