Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, that was helpful. There were a number of things in your remarks that my colleagues are going to ask you for more detail on.

I will open up by asking for your reflections. You have been in post for about nine months, and you have outlined some of your strategies and priorities. Over those nine months, and given that you have a hinterland of lots of experience in areas that have an impact on drug use in Scotland, what is your assessment of how we got to this place? What are you prepared to consider, within the bounds of what we can do in Scotland, but also pushing the boundaries of what we need to do?

Thank you; that was really helpful. Annie Wells has a supplementary question.

Marie, do you still want to ask about inequalities?

Marie McNair has some questions on prevention and early intervention.

Annie Wells has some questions on residential rehabilitation.

Yes. [Interruption.]

You mentioned that the Ambulance Service has naloxone and that families can apply for kits. What is the policy of the police? Do they carry naloxone?

Welcome to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s fourth meeting in 2021. I have received apologies from Evelyn Tweed and I welcome Marie McNair who is attending this morning’s meeting in Evelyn’s absence.

Our first agenda item is to invite Marie McNair to declare any relevant interests to the committee.

Our third item today is to take evidence from the Minister for Drugs Policy on her priorities for session 6. I welcome Angela Constance, the Minister for Drugs Policy. Her officials from the Scottish Government—Michael Crook, the head of the drug deaths team, and Morris Fraser, the head of the delivery and support unit in the drugs policy division—join us remotely.

I believe that the minister has a brief opening statement.

Thank you. We will move on to the impact of Covid-19, with questions from Stephanie Callaghan.