Seòmar agus comataidhean

Does the committee agree to all those recommendations?

Members indicated agreement.

Do members agree with those suggestions?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee agree to those suggestions?

Members indicated agreement.

Before we conclude taking evidence, is there anything else that you would like to add?

PE1986, on the provision of testing kits for drugs in public spaces, has been lodged by Andy Paterson on behalf of the help not harm campaign. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide free testing kits for drugs in public spaces such as local pharmacies, libraries and university buildings.

The SPICe briefing for the petition highlights recommendations of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce, which states that drug testing should be supported and that current drug-checking facilities should be reviewed to ensure that they are open, transparent and accessible. The briefing points to a research project on licensed drug-checking facilities, which was due to report in January 2023, and another related project, which is due to conclude in March 2023.

The Scottish Government’s submission shares its reservations about the simplicity of the testing kits proposed in the petition. It highlights the planned establishment of drug-checking services in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow through upcoming pilots. That approach includes laboratory testing and links to other drugs services and provides wider public health information about the drugs in circulation.

Do members have any comments or suggestions for action???

Do members agree with that suggestion?

Members indicated agreement.

Perhaps Murdo Fraser would like to comment.

PE1991, on developing an educational resource on abortion, has been lodged by Gemma Clark. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to work with Education Scotland to develop a health-focused and stigma-challenging educational resource on abortion and make it available to all secondary schools in Scotland.

Gemma believes that it is essential for all young people to receive medically accurate and health-focused education on abortion and that challenging the stigma around abortion is also essential for a well-rounded sexual health curriculum. In a written submission in support of her petition, Gemma has also raised concerns about anti-abortion groups visiting schools, and the importance of ensuring that young people are provided with factual information regarding their healthcare.

The Scottish Government has responded to the petition, as it often does in such cases, to state that the curriculum is not mandatory. It does not, however, share details of the relationships, sexual health and parenthood resources that are available to teachers.

It is noted that the resources have been developed and peer reviewed in partnership with educators, health professionals and third sector organisations, with the intention of providing young people with learning that is factual and objective and that enables them to make informed choices about their sexual health and wellbeing.

The committee has also received submissions from the Humanist Society Scotland and Scottish Teachers for Positive Change and Wellbeing, as well as a joint letter from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Back Off Scotland. The submissions are broadly supportive of the petition’s aim to ensure that pupils receive medically accurate and health-focused education on abortion.

Do members have any comments or suggestions?

PE1926, which was lodged by Alison Dowling, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to expand universal free school meals provision for all nursery, primary and secondary school pupils.

When we previously considered the petition on 28 September 2022, we agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills seeking an update on the work that is being undertaken to expand the provision of free school meals, specifically on where priority is being given to extending the provision to pupils in secondary schools.

In response, the cabinet secretary notes that £30 million of capital funding has been allocated to support the expansion of catering and dining facilities to help plan for the expansion of free school meals to pupils in P6 and P7. The cabinet secretary also states the Government’s commitment to running a pilot of free school meals in secondary schools to support its consideration of further expansion.

Do members have any comments or suggestions?

Stephanie, thank you very much for your opening statement, which must have been really heartbreaking and emotional for you to read out. Members have a number of questions that they would like to explore. If you are happy, I will ask the first question. What are your main concerns about Police Scotland’s current handling of unexplained deaths?